asked the Minister of Labour if he has yet been able to effect improvements in the present unsatisfactory operation of the Catering Wages Act, 1943.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the hotel section of the catering industry. The employers' associations and the trade unions concerned are at present discussing with my Department certain proposals which have been put forward by the employers. It is too early to say what the outcome will be.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to close Whinburn, Keighley, Institute of House-workers, in view of the large area in the north of England from which the trainees are drawn.

Yes. Owing to the imperative necessity of reducing public expenditure, this centre will close in August at the end of the present course.

asked the Minister of Labour the terms of reference and the names of the members of the Committee on the Employment of Elderly Men and Women.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bradford. North (Mr. W. J. Taylor) on 27th March.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons drawing training allowances under the training schemes administered by his Department; and the number of such allowances paid to married men living away from their homes during such training.

I am having this information extracted and will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will pay the maximum training allowance for married men who live away from home whether they marry before or after entering training and thus assimilate his principle to that adopted for the payment of married allowances to war pensioners.

The maximum training allowance for married men is already paid to all married trainees, irrespective of when the marriage is contracted. In the case of men already married who are transferred away from home for training, an additional weekly sum of 24s. 6d. is paid in respect of their continuing commitments, but this additional payment is not made in respect of new commitments incurred during training. I will, however, consider whether an exception can be made where the period of separation is unavoidably prolonged as in the case of blind persons at residential centres.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of man days lost through industrial disputes for each of the years 1946 to 1951 inclusive.

The information asked for is approximately as follows:

1946	2,158,000
1947	2,433,000
1948	1,944,000
1949	1,807,000
1950	1,389,000
1951	1,694,000

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases referred to the National Arbitration Tribunal for each of the years 1946 to 1951 inclusive.

The figures are as follows:

1946	142
1947	164
1948	174
1949	247
1950	239
1951 (to 13th August)	208

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give figures for 1951 of the activity of his Department under the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Orders, 1940–50, as compared with the table of figures set out on page 119 of his Department's Annual Report for 1950.

The number of cases reported under the Orders during the period 1st January to 13th August, 1951, inclusive was 414, and a further 124 cases reported in 1950 were in action at the beginning of the year. These 538 cases were dealt with as follows:

Referred to National Arbitration Tribunal	208
Referred to arbitration machinery established under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919—
Industrial Court	3
Single Arbitrators appointed by the Minister	7
Total referred to arbitration	218
Settled by reference to suitable joint machinery under Article 2 (2) of the 1940 Order	13
Settled as a result of other Ministerial action under Article 2 (3) of the 1940 Order	7
Settled as a result of action taken by Conciliation Officers	79
Number of cases in action at the end of the period	221
	538

On 14th August the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Orders were revoked by the Industrial Disputes Order, 1951, and the cases in action at that date fell to be considered under the provisions of the latter Order.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons signing the unemployment register in Batley and in Morley in March, 1952, were classified as disabled persons.

Thirty-two at Batley and 32 at Morley Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons there were in Batley and in Morley in the month of March in each of the five years from 1948 to 1952.

Numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of the Batley and Morley employment exchanges at the undermentioned dates were:

—	Batley		Morley
	Male	Female	Male	Female
15th March, 1948	61	5	110	15
14th March, 1949	45	5	48	—
13th March, 1950	52	16	24	9
12th March, 1951	15	26	23	12
17th March, 1952	209	293	189	300

asked the Minister of Labour how many hostels were administered by the National Service Hostels Corporation at the close of 1951 as compared with 1950, as set out in his Department's Annual Report for 1950 on page 103; what are the present charges at standard and sub-standard hostels, respectively; and when and by what amount the charges were last increased.

At the end of 1951 the numbers were:

54	Standard Industrial Hostels.
15	Sub-standard Industrial Hostels.
9	Industrial Hostels for Polish civilian workers.
2	Hostels for dependants of European Volunteer Workers.
2	Hostels for Civil Servants.

Five hostels were closed during the year.Charges at the Industrial Hostels were last increased by 5s. a week on 25th February, 1952, and are now 40s. a week for men and 35s. a week for women at standard hostels, 35s. a week for men and 30s. a week for women in substandard hostels.

asked the Minister of Labour for particulars of the service of the Appointments Department for 1951 showing the increase or decrease as compared with 1950 in the number of vacancies notified by employers, the number of registrants placed in response to those inquiries, the number on the register at the close of the year, and the number of those registered who were already in employment but were seeking other work.

The following table gives the required information:

Vacancies notified during the 12 months ended 15th January, 1951	21,070
Vacancies notified during the 12 months ended 14th January, 1952	22,213
Increase	1,143
Placings during the 12 months ended 15th January, 1951	9,963
Placings during the 12 months ended 14th January, 1952	8,481
Decrease	1,482

Numbers on the Register at 15th January, 1951:
	Unemployed	Employed	Total
	9,088	17,016	26,104
Numbers on the Register at 14th January, 1952:
	Unemployed	Employed	Total
	7,929	15,651	23,580

asked the Minister of Labour what further progress was made in 1951 in the service for resettlement in civil life of ex-Regular members of Her Majesty's Forces by giving them opportunities to enter industry and commerce; and what was the result of the special efforts made on behalf of retired ex-officers.

Under the guidance of the National Advisory Council on the Relationship between Employment in the Services and Civilian Life, considerable further progress has been made. Special arrangements have been concluded with a number of important industries and services to reserve a proportion of their vacancies for ex-Regulars, and discussions are proceeding with others. Employers and trades unions have continued to co-operate in recognising service skill for civilian employment. Special attention has been given during the year to improving the machinery for advising and assisting the Regular to return to civilian employment, and to developing closer co-operation between the work of the Resettlement Advice Service in the Forces and that of my Department.These arrangements have given wide opportunities to ex-Regulars to enter industry and commerce in jobs appropriate to their experience and ability, and Regular service men can feel reasonably assured of finding suitable employment on their return to civilian life.With regard to the second part of the Question, changes in Civil Service recruitment arrangements are being made which will have the effect of extending the opportunities for old ex-Regular officers to secure Civil Service employment, and promises of co-operation in considering favourably the ex-officer have been received from industry and commerce. The resettlement of the ex-officer, however, continues to be more difficult than that of other Service men and the success of the efforts which my Department continues to make must depend to a considerable degree on the officer's willingness to settle in those areas where there is suitable employment and in other respects to adjust himself to the opportunities available.The number of ex-Regular officers placed by my Department in the year ended 31st January, 1952, was 591. Many more have found work by their own efforts or through other agencies.

asked the Minister of Labour what allowance is made in compiling the retail price index for the fact that Londoners have to spend a greater amount of their weekly budget on travel to and from their work than those working in the provinces.

In calculating the effect on the retail prices index of changes in fares, the "weight" or relative importance allotted to travel is based on the aggregate expenditure on travel in the United Kingdom as a whole, compared with the aggregate expenditure on other items. I am afraid that it would not be practicable to record variations on a regional basis.

asked the Minister of Education how many primary and secondary schools have been built in the West Riding of Yorkshire during the course of the last five years; and how many are now awaiting her permission to be built.

Eleven new schools have been completed in the West Riding since the war, and 40 others were under construction at the end of January last. The 1952–53 programme contains 16 new schools.

asked the Minister of Education (1) the scales of staffing approved by her for primary schools in Cornwall;(2) the scales of staffing approved by her secondary schools in Cornwall.

Staffing scales do not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Education what is now the estimated deficiency of dentists in the school dental services.

The position remains as stated in my reply to a Question on 22nd November, 1951, by my hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Remnant), of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Education the names of the primary schools in Breconshire and Radnorshire at which children are not given fresh milk; from what dates such supplies have ceased; and what substitute is being used.

The following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Education whether she will consider asking education authorities to arrange for schools to give special emphasis to Commonwealth and colonial subjects on Empire Day.

It is the practice of local education authorities and schools generally to mark Empire Day in some suitable way, without any special request from me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations have been made to the Government of Pakistan on pensions still owing to former British civil servants; and, in particular, on the residual balances of the general provident fund owing to former members of the Indian Imperial Police.

The United Kingdom High Commission in Pakistan is in constant touch with the Governments in Pakistan responsible for meeting the few outstanding pensionary and provident fund claims of former members of the Indian Services with a view to their early settlement. These cases are being steadily reduced, and I hope that all out-standings will be cleared soon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries are imposing an export tax on deliveries of raw cotton to the United Kingdom; the amount of any such tax, in pence per pound; and what steps Her Majesty's Government is taking to induce such countries to remove these taxes.

The details for which the hon. Member asks are contained in the statement given below. I may say, however, that in all cases the tax applies to exports to all destinations and not merely to exports to the United Kingdom. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by Her Majesty's Government making representations for the removal of these export taxes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his regulations, any decision has been reached about Ardil cloth; how far this cloth will be extensively used in the near future; and, if so, how the price of clothes made from it will compare with those made from cotton or wool.

The use of cloth containing Ardil will depend upon the demand for it, and is not governed in any way by regulations made by my Department. It is not possible to estimate the comparative prices of clothing made from "Ardil" and other fibres, since these will depend upon the price and proportion of the various fibres used and upon the articles of clothing concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will hold immediate consultations with Commonwealth and other countries to see how far it is possible to ease the present export difficulties in the wool and cotton textile industries.

We are in frequent communication with other Governments on this and other export questions and are taking every opportunity open to us to assist the textile industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the import quota for cut flowers, agreed with other countries, has been exceeded by over 33 per cent. during the year 1951.

The current quotas for cut flowers run until the 30th April, but the figures up to the end of February give no grounds for suggesting that the quotas have been exceeded. In the 10 months up to the end of February imports amounted to 921 tons against quotas fixed by quantity totalling 1,495 tons and £23,146 against quotas fixed by value totalling £111,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that it is essential that the spring register of electors should be published one month earlier than the present date, which is inconveniently close to the county council elections; and if he will, therefore, now introduce the necessary legislation and cause the printing to be undertaken by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware that it would be convenient if the register could be published earlier in those years in which the ordinary county council elections are held, but he regrets that the hon. Member's suggestion would not be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he is making new arrangements with regard to the appointment and activities of inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; what steps he proposes to take with regard to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed to advise on the future organisation of medical staffs employed in Government Departments; and if he will consult with organisations representing the veterinary profession, with a view to introducing amendments to the 1876 Act so as to provide for the participation of veterinary surgeons to carry out the work of inspecting animals used for experimental purposes.

The Report of the Committee on the Pay and Organisation of Civil Service Medical Staffs is still under consideration by the Government, but I am very willing to arrange discussions with the veterinary profession about the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, and I have in fact already invited the British Veterinary Association to discuss their problems with officials of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about granting prisoners temporary release in order to enable them to get married.

I have decided that there may be some relaxation of the practice previously followed of refusing such facilities. Governors of prisons and Borstal institutions are being instructed that in future a prisoner or Borstal inmate may, subject to certain conditions, be temporarily released in order to marry where this will prevent a child from being born illegitimate. Release, which will be for the duration of the marriage ceremony only, will be under escort, and the ceremony must be at the nearest place to the prison or Borstal institution at which it can be performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if agreement has yet been reached on the pay of chief constables, assistant chief constables and the various grades of police superintendents; from what date pay under such agreement will be paid; and what are the new scales of pay.

Chief constables, assistant chief constables and all grades of superintendent have received an increase in pay of £150 per annum. I have advised police authorities that the increases should be made effective from 3rd August, 1951, the date from which the federated ranks of the police received the pay increases recommended by Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve. The new scales of pay for the county and borough forces are as follows:

CHIEF CONSTABLES
Strength of force	Scale
41—74	£1,000 × 50—£1,150
75—125	£1,200 × 50—£1,350
126—200	£1,350 × 50—£1,500
201—300	£1,500 × 50—£1,650
301—400	£1,600 × 50—£1,750
401—600	£1,720 × 60—£1,900
601—800	£1,840 × 70—£2,050
801—1,200	£2,040 × 70—£2,250
1,201—1,600	£2,450
1,601—2,500	£2,650
Over 2,500	£2,850

ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLES
Strength of force	Scale
401—600	£1,200 × 50—£1,350
601—800	£1,250 × 50—£1,400
801—1,200	£1,350 × 50—£1,500
1,201—1,600	£1,500 × 50—£1,650
1,601—2,500	£1,600 × 50—£1,750
Over 2,500	£1,720 × 60—£1,900
Chief Superintendents	£1,050 × 25—£1,100
Superintendents, Class I	£ 950 × 25—£1,000
Superintendents, Class II	£ 850 × 25—£ 900

asked the Minister of Health the numbers of full and partial dentures, respectively, provided each year since the commencement of the National Health Service, to date; and the number of dentures which have been remade or relined.

From the beginning of the National Health Service to 31st March, 1950, the numbers of full dentures (upper or lower) and partial dentures supplied were of the order of 5 million and 1½ million, respectively. For the year 1st April, 1950, to 31st March, 1951, the corresponding approximate figures are 3,780,000 and 1,150,000, and for the nine months ended 31st December, 1951, 2,210,000 and 780,000. Remaking is regarded as the supply of new dentures. Some 80,000 dentures were relined during the first 10 months of the past financial year; figures for earlier periods are not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, since the Government's decision to impose charges to the public for dentures under the National Health Service, the volume of work has sharply declined; and if, in view of this threat to the nation's health, he will reconsider these charges.

My right hon. Friend is aware that there has been a decline in the demand for dentures, but he cannot accept the assumption that this necessarily means a threat to the nation's health. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "No."

asked the Minister of Health if he will identify the competent authorities in Holland whom his Department consulted as to the curative qualities of Rotor tablets.

No. The information was given in the course of regular exchange of views between representatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Netherlands Government.

asked the Minister of Health the number of National Health Service general practitioners in the county borough of Sunderland at 1st January, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952, respectively.

Figures are not available for 1st January, 1949. Figures for 1st April, 1949 and for subsequent years are:

1st April, 1949	57
1st January, 1950	54
1st January, 1951	58
1st January, 1952	62

asked the Minister of Health under what conditions doctors are permitted, by his regulations, to receive in whole or in part compensation payments due to them on retirement from practice at an earlier date.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the regulations. They provide for the early payment of compensation in hardship cases where my right hon. Friend is satisfied that this is justified. Normally, advances are made only to enable doctors to repay burdensome loans raised for the purchase of the goodwill of their practices.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mrs. Nora Mealia, 157, Broadlea Terrace, Bramley, Leeds, was refused a deaf aid at St. James's Hospital, Leeds, on the ground that she had previously privately purchased an instrument; that this instrument is now worn out; and whether, in view of the fact that Mrs. Mealia's husband has been unable to work for 10 years, he will consider this as a priority case.

As the hon. Member was informed on 31st March, this patient has not been refused an aid. She was, in fact, placed on the waiting list as soon as she applied but the hospital authorities, who are aware of all the circumstances, do not consider that there are sufficient grounds for giving her priority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are between 200 and 300 patients waiting to be diagnosed for hearing aids at the Blackburn diagnostic clinic, including patients from Accrington; and, as this is largely due to the fact that all cases diagnosed at Blackburn have to await fitting at a distribution centre at Preston, whether he will set up a distribution centre at Blackburn.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the position at Blackburn, but as the hon. Member has been informed by letter, patients from other areas who are fitted at Preston have no advantage over his constituents, nor are they having to wait longer than in some other parts of the country. My right hon. Friend is however reviewing the position at all Centres to see whether improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements he is making to provide medical facilities on the new housing estate at Merstham, Surrey.

The matter is under consideration by the Surrey Executive Council, who are responsible, under the National Health Service, for the provision of general medical services at Merstham.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the widespread sale of children's teething powders containing mercury although no reference to the mercury content appears in the printed analysis; and whether he will take steps to ensure that a full description of such contents is made a condition of sale in future.

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the cases he has in mind I will bring them to the attention of the Pharmaceutical Society, who have the duty of enforcing the appropriate section of the Pharmacy and Medicines Act, 1941.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiries into the effects on children's health arising from the widespread use of teething powders containing mercury, and give such publicity as may be necessary in the interests of parents and children to the result of his inquiries.

Inquiries are already in progress at various children's hospitals. Although indiscriminate use of teething powders is clearly undesirable, there is not yet definite evidence to justify general publicity.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to improve the services provided in Bristol for children suffering from eye complaints and reduce the number of children now waiting for specialist eye treatment.

I am informed that the regional hospital board have already arranged for additional sessions to supplement those held at the central health clinic in Bristol, which I assume is the service the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Minister of Health if he will review the amount which a local authority is required to assume will be needed by persons liable to pay for accommodation provided under Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948, for their personal requirements so that such persons may share in the benefit from the increased rates of pension which are now proposed.

My right hon. Friend is considering this matter in the light of the proposals for increased rates of retirement pensions and other National Insurance benefits announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance.

asked the Minister of Health what reports are published by the Dental Estimates Board on its activities; and what information is available about the policies it adopts from time to time.

The Dental Estimates Board makes an Annual Report to me and I propose to include information from it in the forthcoming Annual Report of my Department. Notices on the procedures of the Board are from time to time circulated to dentists through Executive Councils.

asked the Minister of Health the number of tuberculosis patients waiting for treatment in the borough of Tunbridge Wells.

I am informed that the number of persons on the waiting list for in-patient treatment is 10.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give an assurance that every effort is being made in this country by way of research to combat foot-and-mouth disease; and if he will ensure that his research establishments investigate methods successfully used in other countries.

Yes. Our research station at Pirbright is devoted to the study of this disease and is to be extended. Full account is taken of the experience of other countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what evidence he has derived from the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in this country to show that livestock on farms where organic manuring is practised exclusively are immune to infection; and if he will make a statement.

I have found no evidence to suggest that organic manuring on a farm tends to make the livestock there immune to foot-and-mouth infection; but my Department does not collect information about manuring practices on farms where the disease has broken out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make an order ensuring suitable conditions for horses and donkeys brought into this country by sea.

I hope to be able to make this Order within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what price he paid for the Foulshaw Estate; what is the total expenditure since the purchase upon repairs and improvements, respectively; what was the profit or loss while he was farming the land; and what rent he is now receiving.

The price paid for this estate was £22,250. Up to 31st March, 1952, £16,338 were spent on repairs and £28,350 on improvements. The loss for the period of 14 months ending 31st March, 1951, on farming, including rehabilitation of the land, amounted to £4,592. The final farming accounts for the remainder of the period until the farm was let in February, 1952, are not yet available. The present annual rental is £1,782 15s. 0d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the American defence aid to this country of $300 million for the period to 30th June next he estimates will be unused by that date.

The full amount of $300 million will be committed for specific purchases from the dollar area by 30th June. The actual accrual of dollars to the United Kingdom is, however, tied to the delivery of goods so purchased. I hope that by 30th June we may collect as much as two-thirds of the dollars allotted to us for United States fiscal year 1951–52, and we should receive the balance within a few months thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make regulations to exempt from Income Tax the offerings made to incumbents on Easter Day.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that his proposal would require legislation and could not be carried out by regulation.

asked the Chancellor of the Echequer the revenue derived from Purchase Tax on home-manufactured boots and shoes for the last two years for which figures are available; and the estimated yield of the revised tax.

Separate figures for home-manufactured footwear are not available, but it is estimated that receipts of Purchase Tax from both home-manufactured and imported supplies of footwear of all kinds (including rubber footwear) in the calendar year 1950 were £3·8 million, and in the calendar year 1951, £3.3 million. Under the revised arrangements, I expect that the yield of tax from footwear in 1952–53 will continue at about the same level—that is, that it will be of the order of £3½ million.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury for details of the quantity and price of stationery used in the House of Commons Library for each of the years from 1946 to the latest stated date; and similar particulars for stationery purchased by hon. Members for use away from the House of Commons.

I regret that information is not available as to quantity and price of stationery used by particular Departments of this House, nor of the quantities purchased from time to time by hon. Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sleeper reservations on main line railways for the night of 27th March paid for by the House of Commons accounting officer were not used; and what was the total loss to public funds.

Sixty-three of these reservations were cancelled too late to escape liability for payment. The number the cost of which will actually have to be paid from public funds is 40. The cost of these 40 is £60 6s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship and disturbance being caused to several hundreds of staff by the pending move of Public Departments, No. 7 Branch, of the Inland Revenue Department from Liverpool to Cardiff; what is the estimated cost of this move, inclusive of removal and lodging expenses of the staff directly and indirectly concerned; what saving and benefit will accrue to the administration; and, in view of the fact that the concentration of a large office in Cardiff staffed largely by people compulsorily transferred there is bound to cause recurring problems of this kind, whether he will postpone further action until the whole project has been reconsidered.

The removal of this office will complete the process, begun in 1948, of bringing together the bulk of the work of the Public Departments Branch of the Inland Revenue in one office at Cardiff. This work is being concentrated in the interests of improved organisation and management, and I could not undertake to reconsider the whole project or to postpone this concluding step. Everything possible is being done to avoid hardship to the staff.The cost of the move may be of the order of £25,000-£30,000. This outlay will be recouped through staff and other savings within two or three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of officials employed on the Irish Border customs duty; their yearly salaries; and the number and cost of motors employed.

The number of Customs and Excise officials in Northern Ireland employed wholly or mainly on Customs control on the Land Boundary is 249 and the annual cost in salaries approximately £135,000. The number of motor cars in use is 32 at an estimated annual cost of £6,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the difficulties experienced by retired civil servants re-employed in the public service, he will consider a revision of the existing legislation which restricts the superannuation allowances payable to such persons to such sums as will, together with their earnings in the grade in which they are re-employed, not exceed the maximum of the grade from which they have retired.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. and gallant Member for Merton and Morden (Captain Ryder) on 25th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take into consideration, in his negotiations with the authorities concerned in a review of public service pensions, the provision of an element for a wife and/or children where the pension is less than £300 per annum.

The Pensions (Increase) Acts already provide a higher scale of benefits for pensioners who are married or who have dependants, and the point will be kept in mind in connection with the further provision for pensioners now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the practice of sweet factories employing outworkers to wrap sweets in their homes where there is no control over their handling; and what steps he will take to protect the public from this practice.

Local authorities already have powers under the Food and Drugs Act to make by-laws requiring sanitary and clean conditions of handling sweets to be observed.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that rising costs are forcing small bakers in Devonshire out of business; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.

In order to help the industry I have arranged for more speedy adjustment of the rate of bread subsidy to reflect changes in costs. The new procedure will apply to the rate to be settled after consultation with trade representatives this month.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the taxi-cab fare from Palace Yard to Victoria Station is 1s. 9d. and the fare from Victoria Station to Palace Yard is 2s. 3d because Terminus Place is closed to west to east traffic; and if he will ask the Commissioner of Police to review this arrangement.

Delays due to congestion might increase both fares. The present experimental arrangements in Terminus Place have been reviewed by the police and the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee. They have improved general traffic conditions here and, on the Committee's advice, my hon. Friend proposes, after advertisement, to make the arrangements permanent by regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are taken to ensure compliance with Section 28 of the Public Utilities Street Works Act, 1950, which limits the frequency with which highways may be excavated.

This is the responsibility of the individual highway authorities. A person contravening the section renders himself liable to a fine on summary conviction.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will request the British Broadcasting Corporation under Article 4 (3) of the Broadcasting Licence Agreement on future occasions when a number of main roads become blocked by snow or flood, to broadcast more detailed information for the benefit of road users than was done during the weekend 29th to 31st March.

In the absence of any strong general demand I do not think that I should be justified in asking the Corporation to amplify their bulletins.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a further statement with respect to an inquiry into the accident which occurred last Saturday in Shipley.

I am not yet able to make a statement about an inquiry because I have not yet received sufficient information, nor has the inquest been conducted.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent dogs are a contributory factor in causing accidents on the roads; and whether he will take steps to minimise this danger.

1.48 per cent. of personal injury accidents in 1951 were attributed by the Police to the presence of dogs in the carriageway. Dog owners are urged by propaganda, and an appeal on the back of dog licences, to keep their dogs under control. I do not see what further steps can usefully be taken.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will sub-divide the estimate of £215,000 for road safety propaganda in the figures of his Department for the year 1952–53 under the headings, grants to local authorities, Press and poster advertising and subsidy to Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The estimate of £215,000 is made up as follows:

	£
Grants to local authorities	135,000
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents	69,000
Films and miscellaneous publicity	10,000
Miscellaneous expenditure not related to road safety propaganda	1,000
Total	£215,000

No provision has been made in this estimate for expenditure on Press and poster propaganda.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will conduct an experiment by propaganda to encourage pedestrians at a crossing to signal to traffic that they wish to cross as proposed by the Committee on Road Safety of his Department in a recent report.

No. In my opinion it would be unwise to encourage pedestrians to give such signals. If given clearly and in good time they might be helpful in some circumstances, but they would be dangerous if used without a uniformly high standard of judgment and discretion.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the building of schools and houses in the Stockton-on-Tees district is being seriously impeded by the shortage of cement; and whether he will make available increased supplies of cement.

I am not aware that the building of any schools or houses in the Stockton-on-Tees district has been impeded by a lack of cement. Supplies to the north east have, however, recently been increased.

asked the Minister of Supply whether he will make a statement about the delivery of steel from the United States of America.

At 31st March, roughly 172,000 long tons of steel, pig iron and scrap had been delivered at United States mills, and from other suppliers. Of this, 85,000 tons had arrived in the United Kingdom and the remaining 87,000 tons were in transit in America and on the sea.The agreement provides that the balance will be made available to us at the works in America or at the other sources of supply by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. Justice Upjohn has yet completed his inquiry into the questions at issue between Lord Trefgarne and other directors of the Colonial Development Corporation; and when his findings will be published.

The inquiry has been completed and Mr. Justice Upjohn has promised his report within the next fortnight. I shall then be able to consider the question of publication.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will outline the costs and benefits obtainable by a mother on the birth of her child in a hospital and at her home, respectively, including the services of a home help; and, in view of the difficulties of providing enough accommodation in hospitals and the desire of many mothers to have their babies at home, if he will consider increasing the benefit for those who are willing to do so and thus save hospital beds for more urgent cases.

These matters are dealt with in the National Insurance Advisory Committee's Report on maternity benefits which was published last January, to which I would refer the hon. Member. With regard to the last part of the Question, I cannot add anything to the reply given on 7th April by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Lady the Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White).

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what action he is taking to increase the supply of coke to the steel industry in view of the fact that total stocks of coke on the ground at blast furnaces now represents only a few days supply.

Stocks of coke at blast furnaces amount to 175,000 tons or almost exactly the same as a year ago. The question is, however, receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the insufficient supplies of anthracite available in Ilford and that the waiting period for delivery is now three to four months; and what steps he proposes to take to improve available supplies.

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will expedite the procedure under Section 38 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, to enable local authorities in northeast Lancashire to acquire sites required for dealing with the growing unemployment problem in that area.

I am not aware of any delays in the procedure to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will send me particulars of any cases he has in mind I will certainly look into them with a view to expediting the procedure to the utmost wherever local authorities wish to operate it.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he is aware of the increase in unemployment and short-time working in the jute industry; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a further fall in employment in view of the strategic importance of this industry.

My noble Friend is aware that there has been some increase in unemployment and short-time working in the jute industry due to a fall in demand in recent weeks. It is hoped that the employment position in the industry will shortly improve as a result of the reduction in selling prices of jute and jute goods by about £50 per ton on 2nd April last.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements parallel to those recently announced for England are being made to provide for the rehousing of the civilian occupants of hutted camps in Scotland.

The number of families in camps is taken into account in determining the instalments of houses which local authorities are authorised to build, and I am prepared to make special additional instalments available for this purpose where necessary.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that delays in television installations in Scotland are being caused by the failure of Scottish local authorities to reach an agreed code of reasonable conditions for the erection of television aerials; and if he will take steps to reach speedy agreement on this matter with these authorities.

I have been asked to reply. I assume that what the hon. Member has in mind are conditions which local authorities may attach in permitting the erection of television aerials on their houses. This is a matter for the local authorities themselves and I have no power to intervene.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state what arrangements will be made for the attendance of the Press at the test of the United Kingdom atomic weapon which is to take place this year.

After consultation with Her Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia, Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have decided that it will not be practicable for Press correspondents or any unofficial observers to be present at the test. Arrangements will, however, be made to give out the fullest suitable information after the test has taken place.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the large numbers of persons in the area of the Valentine telephone exchange who cannot be provided with a telephone; and why this exchange is unable to offer telephone facilities to all those who desire to become subscribers.

The difficulties in this case are mainly due to shortage of equipment at the exchange. The position will be improved when additional equipment is installed and new cables provided, but owing to our limited resources, the work cannot begin until the end of this year.

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what additions or subtractions have been made to the transmitting resources of the external services of the British Broadcasting Corporation since 1947 in the United Kingdom and overseas, respectively; and at what cost in each case.

There has been no change in transmitting resources in the United Kingdom apart from minor adjustments to some of the stations. At Singapore the B.B.C. operated a low power station from August, 1948, to May, 1951, and on the latter date a high power station was brought into service at Tebrau in the Federation of Malaya. The revenue expenditure on these services up to the end of March, 1952, has been £170,000. The capital cost of setting up the station at Tebrau was £600,000.From April, 1949, to May, 1951, the B.B.C. rented the use of the station Radio Ceylon at a cost of £78,000; the arrangement ceased when the high power transmitters at Tebrau came into operation. From January, 1947, to March, 1950, the B.B.C. rented the use of a transmitter at Norden in Germany at a cost of £190,000. Since March, 1949, a transmitter at Dobl has been rented from the Austrian administration. The cost up to the end of March, 1952, has been £70,000.