asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measure of inspection was undertaken by the Newport County Council into the conditions of Bank Farm before the boy, Denis O'Neill, was sent there on their instructions; how many inspections were made during the year he was boarded at that place; what was the last date at which he was visited by any member of the Newport Council; and by whom the visit was made.

I have been asked by the Newport Corporation to institute an inquiry into the administrative questions connected with the boarding out of this child and the arrangements for supervision, and I have felt it right to defer any decision on this matter until the criminal charges against the fosterparents, which are now sub judice, have been disposed of. When the trial is completed further consideration will be given to the question and meanwhile it would be undesirable for me to give piecemeal particulars based on incomplete information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will investigate the case, details of which have been submitted to him, of a science graduate of London University in the employ of a British firm in London, who has been offered a responsible position in this country as an employee of a company in Canada wishing to buy British chemicals for sale in Canada after the war, thus aiding our export position, but his application for release has been refused although his present employers agree.

I have investigated the case, details of which have been sent to me by my hon. Friend. It is the case that the science graduate in question had the permission of his present employers to transfer to employment with the Canadian Company, but it was made clear that the work upon which he is engaged required that he should be replaced. The need for chemists for urgent war work is still so great as to make it difficult to agree to the proposed transfer at the moment, but I hope to be able to suggest an arrangement which will be satisfactory to all the parties concerned.

asked the Minister of Supply if he has any figures showing what quantity of standing soft-wood timber, suitable for conversion into sawn timber and not strictly of amenity value, is held by the Commissioners for Crown Lands, the War Office and Forestry Commission; and what steps are being taken to fell this to fulfil the present national demand.

Stands of timber are taken over by agreement from the Commisioners of Crown Lands, the War Office and the Forestry Commission as they are required for cutting, with the endeavour to ensure, so far as possible, equality of treatment between such timber and that held by private owners. Complete figures of the footage which is held by these Departments are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that building societies have recently reduced their interest charges in respect of mortgages upon houses which have been demolished by enemy action, the Public Works Loans Commisioners will reduce the interest charged to local authorities upon loans required by them to make advances under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Acts so as to enable the authorities to reduce the interest charged in respect of advances made by them under these Acts upon houses which have been demolished by enemy action.

No, Sir. The money required for advances to local authorities out of the Local Loans Fund has been raised by the issue of Local Loans Stock. Since the rate to be charged on any such advance is, under statute, to be such as w ill enable the advance to be made without loss to the Fund, the rate was related to the rate payable on the corresponding issue of Stock. The latter rate cannot be varied during the currency of the stock, and it is therefore not possible, without risk of loss to the Fund, to vary the rate charged on the advance.

asked the Minister of Food if he will increase the supply of washing powders and soap in the Cheltenham area, as the present shortage is causing great inconvenience, particularly when laundering is done at home and where there are children in the family.

Deliveries of soap during January were curtailed by transport difficulties due to the severe weather. The position has now eased but I have taken steps to expedite deliveries to Cheltenham and other areas known to have been affected.

asked the Minister of Works if he will consider the suggestion that the oak required for the reconstruction of the House of Commons should be drawn from areas of each constituency represented in Parliament.

The hon. Member's suggestion is most interesting. I will gladly consider it and communicate with him further.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give to the nearest date the full cost involved by way of providing training, hostels and allowances to boys directed to the mines throughout the British coalfields.

The capital cost of hostels intended for miners is estimated to be roughly £5,000,000, but only a part of this should be allocated to the class referred to in the Question, as the use of the hostels is shared with other people. In addition costs have been incurred totalling about £1,135,000 up to 31st December, 1944, on wages for trainees, provision, equipment and maintenance of the training centres and expenses of maintaining hostels over and above contributions by residents.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make early inquiries to discover if any large quantities of seed potatoes have been frosted during the cold spell.

Inquiries are proceeding. I will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the increases in pensions to ex-naval pensioners, as promised to take effect as from January, 1944, have now all been made; and, if not, how soon these ex-naval pensioners will receive the increases which have been promised to them under the Royal Warrant and relative Cmd. 6459.

I regret that there are still a number of claims for percentage increases still outstanding. Progress has been hampered by difficulties in obtaining and training the necessary staff. Every endeavour has been, and is being made to settle all claims as quickly as possible, and I hope that all outstanding payments, with arrears, will have been made by the end of May. The Royal Warrant and relative Command 6459 deal with another class of pensioners, i.e., those receiving a disability pension or allowance. Naval personnel in receipt of a war pension, i.e., those covered by Command 6459, are being dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions. Naval personnel in receipt of a disability pension or an allowance under the peace-time naval code are eligible for corresponding benefits: the necessary adjustments to pensions have been made in all eligible cases; and all applications for additional allowances under the new provisions have been dealt with, except for a few recent applications at present under inquiry.