asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that parties of schoolchildren, recently evacuated from London, have been found to include some children who had already been evacuated many times and who are apparently travelling to and from different reception areas with no intention of remaining there; and whether he will take steps to check this abuse of the evacuation scheme and of the good-will of householders in the reception areas?

Yes, Sir. I believe that relatively few parents have allowed their children to abuse the hospitality of householders in the reception areas in this way. The great majority have fallen in with the policy and spirit of the Government evacuation scheme with commendable patience and loyalty. My right hon. Friend is most anxious that the action of a few should not be allowed to alienate sympathy in the reception areas. It is not in the public interest that this abuse should continue unchecked, and my right hon. Friend has therefore asked the London evacuation authorities in present circumstances not to include in parties children who have been previously brought back without reasonable excuse.

asked the Home Secretary what action he proposes to take with regard to the refusal of the Royal Gwen Hospital authorities to consult the trade union representative of their employees with regard to the arrangements to be made under the Fire Prevention (Business Premises) Order, 1941; and whether he has considered the representations made by the National Union of County Officers and Guild of Nurses?

I have asked the Regional Commissioner to look into the matter alleged and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as I receive this report.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of pensioner chief petty officers have been promoted to temporary warrant rank but receive no increase in their emoluments beyond 2s. a day, which is absorbed by their additional messing expenses; that a number of officers of commander's and captain's ranks are anxious to emulate the example of their subordinates by accepting the responsibilities of higher rank on the same financial basis; and whether he will afford them the opportunity?

There is little difference between the rates of pay of some senior chief petty officers and junior warrant officers, and the special allowance of 2s. a day to which the hon. Member refers is granted to naval pensioners promoted to temporary warrant rank in order to ensure that their emoluments as officers shall be at least 2s. a day more than their emoluments as chief petty officers. This allowance of 2s. a day is in addition to the full pay and allowances of a warrant officer, and rating's pension. The maximum mess subscription for a warrant officer is Is. a day. I am unaware of any general desire on the part of commanders and captains to forego part of their pay on promotion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he received representations from naval authorities that the naval peace-time scale of travelling expenses was inadequate, and that sub-lieutenants getting 15s. a day subsistence allowance when travelling have to meet the same scale of bills as captains receiving 25s. a day; whether he is aware that civil servants experienced similar difficulties but have had their regulations revised long ago; and whether he can make a statement in connection with this grievance?

This question has recently been under active review in the Admiralty in the light of information received from naval authorities. I hope that a satisfactory settlement will be achieved in the near future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the disappointment in the writer branch of the Navy owing to the personnel being denied promotion to the ranks for which they are fitted, and to their having officers placed over them from outside who cannot be expected to know the duties of the writer branch?

I am not aware of the feelings ascribed by the hon. Member to the writer branch. The hon. Member will appreciate that in this branch, as in others, the great expansion of the wartime fleet necessitates the grant of a certain number of temporary commissions to ratings serving for hostilities only. All these ratings have to serve a period on the lower deck, and then undergo a special course of training for their duties. Only officers who have formerly held naval rank, or have in cases of urgency to be entered abroad, are given temporary commissions without previous service on the lower deck.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of ex-naval and ex-reserve accountant officers, who have been out of the Navy for more than 20 years, have been re-employed in the ranks of paymaster lieutenant-commander, or paymaster-commander; and whether, if these officers are equal to the work involved, he will reconsider the appointment of paymaster captains and the presence of six of them in each of the home ports?

Yes, Sir. These officers have been re-employed because the work of the accountant branch has vastly increased under war conditions, and because they are competent to fill the posts for which they have been selected. I see no reason to reconsider the posts held at the naval ports by paymaster captains. The hon. Member will realise that the entry of additional officers to carry out additional duties does not automatically reduce the work of officers already borne in the authorised complement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as the Ministry of Food still has on its hands much of the tonnage of fresh salted cod bought from Iceland, any of it is being used, or is to be used in the Navy?

Fish is not issued as a ration in kind in the Navy but it is bought from the N.A.A.F.I. or outside fishmongers as required. Such purchases are at the option of the ships or establishments, or in some cases, individual messes. Without making detailed inquiries from all ships and establishments, it is not possible to say to what extent fresh salted cod is being used in the Navy, but the records of N.A.A.F.I. show that there is not a large demand for it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to issue uniforms to the sea cadets at the public expense?

This matter is being considered and I hope to be able to make a statement in the near future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the same class of skilled men employed by the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm do not receive the same rate of pay; why throughout all non-commissioned ranks men of the Fleet Air Arm receive about Is. 6d. per day less pay; and why, as leading air-fitter (L) is equal in skill and rank to a corporal wireless and electrical mechanic, he does not get the same rate of pay?

The qualifications required of naval air personnel and their rates of pay are fixed with reference to naval standards which are governed by naval conditions of service. Conditions of service in the Royal Air Force differ from those in the Royal Navy, and no accurate comparison can be made between the two Services.

asked the Minister of Information whether he is satisfied that the British Broadcasting Corporation's Welsh broadcasts are satisfactory to Wales; and whether he has recently made inquiries of the Welsh officials of the British Broadcasting Corporation on this subject?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Mr. Temple Morris) on 15th October last. The position was thoroughly examined by the B.B.C. on that occasion, and there is no reason to think that it has changed since.

asked the Minister of Information whether he will investigate both the nature of the broadcasts in Portuguese and the antecedents of those employees of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for these broadcasts?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to give me some more specific indication of the matters he has in mind I will cause inquiries to be made into them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there is any differentiation between the municipal manual workers of urban district councils and rural councils so far as the supplementary cheese ration is concerned?

The only differentiation occurs in the case of roadmen. The special cheese ration has been granted to roadmen employed by rural district councils as the condition!; of their work are almost identical with those of county roadmen who generally work out of reach of any form of catering facilities and require to take their midday meal with them. The roadmen employed by urban district councils are not in the same position.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that as the balk of meat imported to this country is boneless it is increasingly difficult for manufacturers of soups to continue their production; and whether, as the order issued by his Department states that soups must contain a certain percentage of solids, he will authorise, as an alternative, the use of milk or milk powder?

I am aware that the percentage of boneless beef in the total imports of beef is being increased to economise in shipping space but I am not aware that difficulties have been caused to soup manufacturers in obtaining bones, as supplies of bones are usually available with the wholesale meat supply associations for allocation to soup manufacturers. A quantity of milk powder is at present being allocated for soup making but it is not possible to allocate supplies of milk.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the continuing practice of certain stock-breeders to suckle pedigree bull calves of beef breeds to more than one foster parent in order to increase their quality for sale and show purposes; and whether, at a time when milk for human consumption is scarce, he will stop this practice?

This question is under discussion with the agricultural Departments and I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend at a later date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered a resolution passed recently by the Kent county branch of the National Farmers' Union protesting against the distribution of onions and carrots through the National Vegetable Marketing Company, Limited; and what steps he proposes to take?

The resolution to which my hon. Friend refers has not yet reached my Department, but it will receive my careful consideration as soon as possible and I will inform my hon. Friend in due course of any action which it is proposed to take.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the information at his disposal enables him to advance any reliable statistics of the cost per head per week for food in middle-class families and in the families of munition workers?

I regret that information relating to the sections of the population mentioned by my hon. Friend is not available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Home-grown Wheat Price Control Order, 1941, is being used to obstruct the local growing and milling of wheat thus limiting the supply of whole wheat bread as well as of flour for home baking, and that these and similar regulations are ousting the small country millers and causing their mills to become derelict; and will he take steps to remedy this?

I cannot accept the statement made by my hon. Friend. In conformity with the policy of my Department, new small country mills have been opened up, and I have no evidence that any have been ousted or become derelict. I shall be pleased to investigate any such cases if my hon. Friend will let me have particulars.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether a man, keeping his own pigs, or boarding those belonging to a neighbour, will be permitted to have them slaughtered by the proper officer and then cure the bacon at home; and whether the owner of the boarded pigs may do the same?

Food executive officers are authorised to grant licences to a pig owner authorising him to slaughter and cure, for consumption in his own household, pigs which are his property, and which he has fed on his own premises for not less than two months. A pig keeper may not be granted a licence to slaughter pigs which he is "boarding'' for someone else. The maximum number of pigs which may be slaughtered by an individual producer is two in a year. "His own premises" are regarded as including premises owned or rented or otherwise in the pig owner's possession or control, but not land used for agisting stock. The carcases of pigs slaughtered by an individual pig owner under licence may be cured on the licensee's own premises, or at a Class A bacon factory specified in the licence. A licence to slaughter may not be granted to an owner whose pigs are boarded with someone else. In cases where each of two persons occupying separate premises owns pigs, but all the pigs are kept on one set of premises and the owners share the work and cost of rearing them, licences may be granted to either owner or to both, provided the food executive officer is satisfied as to the bona fides of the arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Circular 2407 (1941), issued by his Department to medical officers and institutions under its direction, conveyed the assurance that national wheatmeal flour contains the greater part of the germ of the wheat and is consequently of high nutritive value; and, as this assurance is not correct, whether he will withdraw the circular and explain the position?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on a similar Question on 18th December. In the circumstances I see no need to withdraw the circular.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents in and about the mines in the county of Durham for the years 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1940, respectively?

Following is the information:—

Number of persons killed and injured by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act in Durham during the years 1936–40:
Year	Killed	Injured (Disabled for more than 3 days)
1936	101	18,936
1937	110	20,294
1938	88	18,834
1939	77	17,419
1940	96	16,401

asked the Postmaster-General why payment of interest on money in the Post Office Savings Bank which has hitherto been paid in December each year is now being postponed until May of the following year; under what Parliamentary enactment this step is taken; and who will receive the benefit of the five months' delay in the payment of this interest?

The statutory regulations of the Post Office Savings Bank provide that interest

"shall be calculated to the 31st December in every year, and shall then be added to and become part of the principal money."

In practice the calculation of the interest due on all the accounts—now numbering nearly 15,000,000—cannot be completed until some time in the year following that for which the interest is due; and the calculation of interest for 1940 was not in fact completed before the autumn of the present year. This, however, makes no difference whatever to the depositors, each one of whom has been entitled since the 1st of January, 1941, to all the interest due to him in respect of the year 1940. In these circumstances the other questions asked by the hon. Member do not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange with firms to enclose in pay envelopes an appeal for saving and lending money to the Government?

This practice has been consistently advocated by the National Savings Committee and has already been widely adopted. I would welcome its extension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether preferential treatment in the supply of paper is being accorded to the printers and publishers of the Post Office greetings, which the Postmaster-General is at present advertising; and is he aware that the paper material used for these official greetings is much in excess of the corresponding material used by the commercial publishing houses of the greeting card trade?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind the National Savings greeting card. These cards, which are a seasonal variation of the Savings stamp book, are proving very popular and are playing an important part in the War Savings Campaign. Their use helps to reduce Christmas spending on non-essential commodities, and I am satisfied that it is in the national interest to use such paper as is needed to make their appeal fully effective.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange an early date for a Debate on the Reports of the Select Committee on National Expenditure?

A general Debate on the reports of the Select Committee would tend to be inconveniently discursive. If the hon. Member will indicate what particular subject he wishes to discuss, the question whether time can be found for a Debate can be settled through the usual channels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will include in the next leaflet issued by his Ministry recommendations as to the daily ration required for dairy cows, in oats, bran and hay, when this is the only fodder available; and can he now state what they are?

The Ministry's "Grow-more" Leaflet No. 80—of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy—contains such information. A ration consisting of 21 lb. medium quality hay, 4 lb. oats and 4 lb. bran, would normally be sufficient for a cow giving 2 gallons of milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give details of the scheme for distributing chicks through the Domestic Poultry Keepers' Association?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a Press notice issued on 9th December last which contains particulars of the scheme for the issuing of feeding stuffs for chick rearing next year, including the rearing of pullets for sale primarily for domestic poultry keepers. I assume this is the scheme to which the Question refers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he contemplates being able to replace by prisoners of war on the land the 10,000 young agricultural workers who are being called up; and how many of these are available?

I think that the young men being called up for military service will, for the most part, have to be replaced on farms by members of the Women's Land Army. About 4,500 prisoners of war are at present available for employment in agriculture and I hope that well over 10,000 more will become available during 1942. Most of these prisoners will, however, have to be employed on gang work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (1) whether he will give a list of contracts which are still functioning on a cost plus 10 per cent, basis; and approximately when he expects this form of contract will come to an end;

Contracts on the basis of the payment of actual ascertained cost plus a percentage of cost as profit are only resorted to in cases where it is not possible to estimate the extent or cost of the work, as for example, certain repair work. As a result of the urgent need for repair of machine tools which arose at the end of last year, a scheme was adopted for the placing of running contracts for this work with a considerable number of firms. It is not considered advisable at this stage to revise this arrangement. I do not anticipate that conditions in the future will be such as to permit the complete elimination of this type of contract. It would not be in the public interest to publish a list of the firms concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply in how many instances has the Ministry of Supply had to change the management of factories engaged in war production; what are his powers in this respect; and what policy is the Ministry committed to in regard to this matter?

With regard to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 11th December. The Minister's powers to change the management of an undertaking and to acquire all the shares in a company are set out in Defence Regulations 55 (4) and 78. The management will be changed in any case where that course appears to the Minister to be necessary in the interests of munitions production. Changes in management have often been and will often be secured as the result of representations by the Ministry without the exercise of compulsory powers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether Government work undertaken in railway workshops is carried out under normal contract conditions or what otherwise are the terms of any arrangements or agreements?

A large part of the Government work (other than normal railway work) which is being done in railway workshops will be subject to terms and conditions now under negotiation between the railway companies and the Admiralty, the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Some work is, however, being done under fixed price contracts and is subject to normal contract conditions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply to what extent the publishers of ordinary every-day greeting cards were prepared to work on reduced paper supplies of 50 per cent, of the pre-war ration to enable them to continue publishing such cards; and will he amend Paper Order No. 36, which prohibits production, to enable some 60 established firms of this specialised industry to fulfil their obligations to those of their workpeople now serving in His Majesty's Forces in the matter of employment when they return to civilian life?

I regret that I cannot make any statement at the moment.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the perils of the present situation, he will call for a comprehensive revision of all activities, such as propaganda for a negotiated peace, absenteeism, waste and extravagance in the expenditure of public money and time wastage, incompatible with maximum national effort against our enemies; and will he exercise the powers the Government has to the full against offenders?

His Majesty's Government is constantly on the alert to combat activities which may impede the national effort, and does not hesitate to use its powers to the full in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will investigate the position of young able-bodied men who have sought protection by taking up engineering or similar industrial work of which they have had no previous experience;

As explained in paragraph 8 of the Explanatory Memorandum to the Schedule of Reserved Occupations (Revision December, 1941), an unreserved man who enters a reserved occupation does not now become reserved by reason of the change. A case must be made out on the merits of the man's work for his retention in industry. This has not hitherto been the rule because the expansion of essential war-time industries has necessitated the absorption of a great many persons without previous experience of them. In any case in which it is found that a man is not genuinely following the reserved occupation, he is called up. In this, I have had the active co-operation in agricultural cases of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and of the War Agricultural Executive Committees. If my hon. Friend will furnish details of specific cases I shall be glad to investigate them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether he can give the House any information with regard to the original plans and drawings for the Palace of Westminster, by Sir Charles Barry, which have been found; and whether these plans and drawings can be acquired and, at some future time, suitably displayed in the House?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings whether, in connection with the finding of the original drawings of the Palace of Westminster in a house at Cheam, Surrey, on 13th December, it is proposed to make any use of these drawings in rebuilding any of the damaged parts of the building?

Mr. Charles Marshall, of Cheam, Surrey, generously offered in May last to present to the Ministry a collection of some 52 drawings made by Sir Charles Barry for the building of the Houses of Parliament. Certain of these drawings will undoubtedly be useful and have been retained by the Ministry. The remainder have, with Mr. Marshall's agreement, been presented to the R.I.B.A., where a large collection of drawings by Sir Charles Barry is already preserved and where they will be more readily available to the architectural profession. The drawings retained in the Ministry, though containing valuable information, are fragmentary and not considered suitable for exhibition as suggested.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that no Moslem Arab is allowed to practice as a notary public for foreign documents in the Holy Land and that the large Moslem population is thereby at a disadvantage; why no advocate is given a licence to practise as a notary public for certifying documents intended for foreign countries unless he satisfies the High Commissioner that he has been called to the English Bar; and whether he will give immediate effect to the draft Notary Public (Foreign Documents) Ordinance, published in the "Jerusalem Gazette" on 1st July, 1932?

It is not the case that Moslem Arabs are debarred from practising as foreign notaries public in Palestine. But the Notaries Public (Foreign Documents) Ordinance provides that licences to practise may be granted only to barristers, solicitors, or notaries public of the United Kingdom: this limitation was imposed because the ordinance was enacted for the purpose of constituting notaries public for foreign documents for the sole purpose of taking over the functions which before the last war were performed by the British Consulates. It was considered right that the exercise of these functions, which involves only a small volume of work, mainly the alteration of affidavits, powers of attorney, and similar documents for use in the United Kingdom, should be restricted to professional persons having United Kingdom qualifications. On further consideration of the draft of the Notaries Public (Foreign Documents) Ordinance published in the "Gazette" of the 1st July, 1932, which enabled licences to be granted to barristers, solicitors, or notaries public of any part of His Majesty's Dominions (which would not include Protectorates or Mandated Territories), it was decided that the original grounds still held good and that the Bill should not therefore be proceeded with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement on the outbreak of plague in Kenya?

A single case of plague occurred in Kiambu District in January, 1941. Cases were reported at Nairobi and in South Kavirondo District in February, at Mombasa and in Fort Hall District in June, and in Nyeri in July. No further extension of the infection has been reported. The latest return shows that the total number of cases detected has amounted to 449, of which 114 have been fatal. Most of the cases have been bubonic plague, but a certain number of cases of pneumonic plague have occurred. A close watch has been kept on the position among rats in Mombasa but no infected rats have been discovered. The Kenya Government is taking all possible steps to deal with the outbreak. In this connection I may mention the provision of improved native housing at Nairobi, at a cost of £50,000, of which I informed the House on 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many areas the Maternity Services (Scotland) Act is now operative; why it is not operative throughout Scotland, and in view of the increase of maternal mortality, what steps are being, and are proposed to be, taken in order to reduce such mortality; what are the causes of such mortality; and what directions have been given to local authorities direct or through medical officers of health to meet the present situation?

The Maternity Services (Scotland) Act, 1937, is in operation in 40 out of 55 local authority areas. In the remaining 15 areas the introduction of the scheme has been delayed, in most cases because agreement with the local medical practitioners has not been obtained. In one of these fifteen areas, Glasgow, the corporation have met the position by special arrangements to provide midwife, doctor and specialist services under previously existing powers. The causes of maternal mortality were investigated by an expert committee whose report was published in 1935 (Report on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in Scotland). The medical officers of the Department of Health for Scotland maintain regular contact with local maternity services and medical officers of health in an attempt to ensure that everything possible is done on the lines of the recommendations in that report to safeguard the health and lives of mothers. In addition, the arrangements for supplying free and cheap milk to expectant mothers should make a valuable contribution towards their health and safety. The Scottish Committee of the British Medical Association is endeavouring to persuade doctors in several of the remaining dissident areas to accept service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, whether, under Regulation 56A (S. R. and O., 1941, No. 1596), he proposes in issuing licences to large business houses which have to make their premises wind-proof and watertight, to take into consideration both their special requirements and the normal activities of the running repair staffs carried by these enterprises which desire to retain their services?

Yes, Sir. Licensing officers will give consideration to all relevant factors put forward by applicants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, the nature and amount of the sums to be prescribed by his Department in respect of running repairs or maintenance under the new Regulation 56A (S. R. and O., 1941, No. 1596)?

My Noble Friend has made an Order (S. R. and O., No. 1986) which prescribes that up to £100 may be spent without licence on any single property in any period of twelve months on building work including running repairs and maintenance. For this purpose the cost of the work includes, in addition to the materials used, the proper proportion of any standing charges for staff or other services and other overhead charges.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the geological departments of Cardiff and Swansea universities have carried out a survey of the water supplies of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire; that there are ample supplies of water, but that they are not properly distributed, and that some areas are still in need of an adequate water supply; and whether he will consult these two universities with a view of ascertaining their considered opinions and make the necessary provisions for a post-war scheme to meet the needs of the Principality?

I have made inquiries, but my information is that a survey of this kind has not been carried out by the geological departments of the two universities. I am, however, familiar with the account of the water supply in South Wales, contained in the Second Industrial Survey of South Wales, published on behalf of the National Industrial Development Council of Wales and Monmouthshire in 1937. If my hon. Friend has in mind any areas in need of an adequate water supply, I shall be happy to have the matter looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, in view of the fact the permanent experienced staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation have now become liable for military service up to the age of 35, temporary Captain Mac-Nab, aged 32, was selected for the post of War Office liaison officer and military adviser to the British Broadcasting Corporation; and for what reason he has been prompted to the rank of temporary major?

It is essential that the holder of this appointment should have first-hand knowledge of the Army as well as broadcasting experience. Captain MacNab possesses both these qualifications and was selected as the most suitable officer available. The rank of major is considered appropriate for this appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Army Council proposes to compel all officers in mechanised cavalry and yeomanry regiments to wear berets in view of the fact that crash helmets and not berets are worn in tanks; and whether, as these officers have already had to buy three different types of headdress, he will ensure that none of them are compelled to purchase berets until their existing head-dresses are worn out?

No officer in a mechanised cavalry or yeomanry regiment will be compelled to purchase a beret until his existing type of head-dress requires replacement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that the regulation to the effect that only one cover is allowed over a truck containing seed potatoes, instead of the two normally used in peace-time, seriously increases the risk of frost damage; and whether he will consult the railway authorities so that seed potatoes may be transported in timber-covered vehicles?

The direction to the railway companies not to double-sheet traffic was revoked in June last. There are not sufficient covered vans for this seasonal traffic, the bulk of which is normally conveyed in open wagons with two sheets and is being so carried now.

asked the Minister without Portfolio whether he has approached the Association of Municipal Corporations and/or the County Councils Association with a view to remodelling local government administration on regional or similar lines; and will he make a statement on the subject?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to a Question on 15th October. For his convenience, I am sending him a copy.