asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he is taking to safeguard the future position of the British willow growing and wicker work industry in view of the valuable contribution of this industry to the war effort and in implementation of the policy of full employment;

(2) whether he will include tables and chairs of wicker and basket work in the category of utility furniture.

The Basket and Willow Trade and Development Committee have issued a report on the post-war problems of this industry, and this is being considered by the Departments concerned. I am already examining the possibility of including wicker furniture in the utility furniture scheme and have asked the manufacturers to submit designs to my Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the fact that existing Government contracts have been practically completed, he will now remove the ban on the manufacture of baskets for domestic use.

Yes, Sir. The necessary Order is now being prepared.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the expected early ending of the European war, he will confine the granting of licences to open businesses, or transfers of licences, to ex-Servicemen and women and civilians compulsorily displaced by war circumstances, for a period to the end of the Japanese war and 12 months afterwards, in order that they may have the chance to establish themselves and build up a goodwill.

I have given instructions that preferential treatment shall be given to war disabled persons who apply for licences to open new shops, and that only in the most exceptional circumstances shall such licences be granted to others. But once the war in Europe is over, licences will, in addition, be granted, as a matter of course, to persons on the Register of Withdrawn Traders who wish to resume their former businesses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why members of the Forces repatriated after being prisoners of the Japanese are not entitled to coupons while those who have been in the hands of the Germans and Italians are so entitled.

I have given instructions that repatriated prisoners of war returning from the Far East shall be treated in exactly the same way as regards the issue of civilian clothing coupons as prisoners of war repatriated from Germany or Italy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now prepared to release Lancashire weaving mills at present occupied as stores by various Government Departments.

I am anxious to clear factories, in Lancashire and elsewhere, of Government stores as soon as possible, but the demands of other Departments for storage are still very heavy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that the Combined Production Resources Board has placed orders for textiles in Brazil for an additional 300,000,000 yards to be delivered in 12 months; and what steps he has taken, while the Lancashire cotton industry is concentrated on war-time production, to safeguard industry's export interests;

(2) if he is aware that Brazil, a prewar customer of Lancashire for cotton textiles, has agreed with the Combined Production and Resources Board, to export cotton goods 30 per cent. in excess of Lancashire's war-time exports; and, in the light of foreign preparedness for postwar trade, what plans he is putting forward for setting up new industries in the cotton areas of Lancashire to take the place of the cotton industry as a source of employment.

There is a severe world shortage of cotton textiles, and these supplies from Brazil will be a very useful contribution towards meeting the needs of U.N.R.R.A. and of the United Nations. We are at present exporting all we can spare, after our minimum home requirements have been met, to those Empire and Allied countries which depend on us for supplies. As I informed my hon. Friend on 6th March, His Majesty's Government consider that for some time after the war the cotton industry should be able to sell overseas, at good prices, all it can produce for export. There has been a large amount of new industrial building in Lancashire during the war, and I hope that these modern factories, for which I have already received many applications from industrialists, will be fully used when they are no longer required for war production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how soon he will be able to allow householders and especially those who are accommodating war workers, evacuees and holidaymakers, to purchase sheets and household linen to replenish their pre-war supplies which, after nearly six years of war and hard wear and tear, are now reduced to a minimum.

All articles of household linen, except towels and tea-cloths, can be bought without coupons or other restrictions. But supplies are short, and I have to keep some of the sheets for those householders who have special needs. Supplies will be increased as soon as more labour and material are available for civilian production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, now that the letter post limits for France have been raised from one ounce to four pounds, whether he will remove the ban on sending used clothing to France in parcels within the four pound limit.

Yes, Sir. This has already been done. The Red Cross may now send to France parcels up to six pounds in weight containing used clothing.

asked the hon. Member for Dulwich, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he is aware that, on Friday 20th April, several Members of this House were ill as a result of eating contaminated food supplied in the Dining Room of the House; and whether he will take steps to reorganise thoroughly the methods of storing, preparing and cooking food supplied to Members.

I have received a report from the Manager of the Refreshment Department, that two Members had complained about feeling ill after eating game pie on Thursday last. The Manager expressed regret to the hon. and gallant Members, and stated that he would investigate the complaints. He reports that 32 portions of this pie were sold, and no complaint was received from any other Member. The Kitchen Committee must deny the suggestion that contaminated food is served in the Dining Room. At all times, every care is taken to ensure that food supplied to Members is stored, prepared and cooked under the best conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the cost of paying now the 6d. per day deferred payment due to old age pensioners who have been stood down from C.D.

I regret that I have not the necessary information to answer this Question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many buildings in Brighton and Hove are now requisitioned by his Department; how many of these are normally hotels, boarding-houses and private dwellings, respectively; and if he will state the approximate number of rooms involved in each category.

The number of buildings held on requisition by the Admiralty in Brighton and Hove is 54. Of these five are hotels, comprising 322 rooms; three are boarding-houses, with a total of 42 rooms; and 17 are private dwelling houses in which there are 203 rooms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sanctions have been given by the War Damage Commission for cost of work payments to houses which, though badly damaged, are of sufficient solidity and age to justify exceptional treatment.

I assume that what my hon. Friend wishes to know is the number of houses destroyed or damaged beyond repair, but nevertheless classified by the War Damage Commission as eligible for cost of works payments. The number is estimated to be of the order of 50,000.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many architects, surveyors, jig and tool makers, constructional foremen and other building trade operatives will be released immediately European hostilities cease; and how many will still be retained in the Forces for later demobilisation;

(2) whether he can state the number of building trade operatives that will be released under the B scheme for demobilisation; how many others will be retained in the Forces for future demobilisation; and has he any information as to when these will be released.

There will be no releases from the Forces immediately European hostilities cease. Releases in Class A will begin after a period, which will be reduced to a minimum, to enable the Services to make the necessary re-dispositions and to release men in the same release groups at the same time. The rate of release of building trade workers both in Class A and Class B will depend upon the general rate of release which I am not at present in a position to indicate. Release in Class B will be offered to as many building craftsmen as is possible without undermining the main principle of release by age and length of service. Architects and surveyors will be eligible for release as individual specialists, within the Class B arrangements, on applications supported by the appropriate Government Departments.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women taken into the Forces from the town of Maidstone; and in which official groups they have been placed for return to civil life.

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour approximately how long after V-Day the first demobilisations will take place; and what approximate time will elapse between the various groups being released from the Services, so that industrialists may draw up their post-war resettlement plans.

I regret that the position is still too uncertain for a firm announcement to be made.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the effect on the engagement of managers, shop managers, etc., employed in the Royal Ordnance factories of the reorganisation of the Appointments Department which is now in progress.

The reorganisation of the Appointments Department will not affect the engagement of managerial staff employed in the Royal Ordnance Factories.

asked the right hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what is the normal average annual number of trees planted for amenity purposes only and not with the ultimate idea of creating timber for general national use.

No record is kept by the Forestry Commissioners of the number of trees planted solely for amenity purposes. The numbers are relatively small and reliance is placed rather on the disposition of trees which have also an economic value.

asked the Minister of Supply whether, as timber can now be imported, he will take steps to ensure that no more of our own forests are cut down.

As timber cannot yet be obtained from abroad in sufficient quantities to meet essential needs, I regret that home timber production must for the time being be maintained at the present high level; but as soon as the situation allows steps will certainly be taken to curtail the rate at which the woodlands of the country are being felled.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the members of the fruit and vegetable trade that they have not been recognised to the extent of being offered a permanent seat on the Food Control Committee and, as this trade is a most important one, will he inquire into the matter and have the circumstances adjusted.

I have been asked to reply. A few representations have been received from the fruit and vegetables trade for a seat on each Food Control Committee and full consideration has been given to the suggestion. In view, however, of the claims of several other branches of retail food trades to equal representation and the necessity to maintain the existing balance between trade and consumer interests on the committees my right hon. and gallant Friend regrets that he cannot accept the proposal.

asked the Minister of Health upon what principle his Department advises allocation of wheat germ for the production of certain patent foods and medicines by a few favoured firms; what is the source of the wheat germ thus used and what proportion that allocation bears to the available supply of wheat germ in this country.

The principle on which my Department advises is that any preparation for which wheat germ is allocated should be of such a composition that it is of value for medicinal purposes, and that it should be made available for such purposes. As regards the second and last parts of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the two answers given him on 17th April by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food.

asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will give an assurance that the rate of retirement pensions to be paid under the National Insurance Scheme will not be reduced on account of any other payment to which the pensioner may be entitled under a private superannuation scheme.

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is no intention to reduce the rate of the contributory retirement pensions proposed under the National Insurance Scheme by reason of any payment made under a private superannuation scheme. It will, of course, be open to the parties to existing superannuation schemes to review the position in the light of the basic provision to be made under the new scheme, but I should make it clear that the Government attach the greatest importance to voluntary schemes of insurance and would like to see their range extended.

asked the Minister of Health whether the £150 loan to local authorities to enable them to advance money to local residents wishful to restart residence or trading is now fully distributed to all towns in the scheme; whether he will give the detailed amounts distributed to such local authorities; and whether these are finding the £150 limit sufficiently attractive to be helpful.

Twenty-six local authorities have so far been authorised to make loans under Defence Regulation 68D. Advances are made from time to time, as required, to the local authorities so authorised, and £55,500 has so far been advanced to 18 authorities. I have no reason to think that these loans are not proving helpful.

Following is a list of the local authorities who have received initial advances, with the amounts advanced in each case:

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements are being made to store coal this summer, for sale to small householders during the winter.

By arrangement with the Merchants' Consultative Committee merchants will, during the summer, take into stock in their yards against winter needs 1,500,000 tons of house coal. This is in addition to some 300,000 tons which it is estimated will remain in stock at the end of April.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has any plans for improving the output of coal before the winter.

Yes, Sir; but it is impossible to give details within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary Question.

asked the Minister of Health how many complaints his Ministry has received that local authorities are compulsorily acquiring for temporary purposes builders' sites; whether such action which prejudices ordered building development meets with the approval of his housing advisers; and what is the latest guidance on this matter given to local authorities.

I regret that I cannot give my hon. Friend the exact number of cases in which an owner has objected to the acquisition of a site on the grounds that he himself wished to develop it. It is not the Government's policy that such land should be acquired if a satisfactory alternative can be found, but acquisition has been authorised in some cases owing to the urgent need to provide temporary houses quickly and the absence of a satisfactory alternative. General guidance on the selection of sites is given in the Memorandum on Temporary Accommodation of which I will send my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities levy occupiers' rates upon lower rented premises occupied by wage-earners upon the landlords.

The latest returns available show that 963 local authorities in England and Wales levy rates compulsorily on the owners of small properties instead of the occupiers. Many local authorities also enter into voluntary agreements to the same effect, but complete information as to their number is not available.

asked the Minister of Works for what reason the leading local building firms were not invited to tender for a contract for the erection, at Slough, of 100 temporary houses.

One Slough firm was invited to tender for the erection of 100 temporary houses; the only other firm qualified for a contract of this size in accordance with the arrangements agreed with the industry, was overloaded. Tenders are now being invited for a site at Slough taking 38 temporary houses, and four of the six firms invited to tender are Slough firms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount collected by Purchase Tax since the passing of the Purchase Tax up to the latest date.

The total net receipts from the Purchase Tax up to 31st March, 1945, were approximately £425,316,000.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will state the mileage it is estimated that the average taxicab can do with the present petrol ration.

The monthly mileage obtainable with the present ration by an average taxicab is estimated at 1,500 miles in London and 1,200 miles in the provinces.

asked the Secretary of State for Air at what point of time it is proposed to stand down personnel of the Royal Observer Corps; and whether adequate previous notification will be given of such intention.

The Royal Observer Corps is an integral part of the air raid reporting system and the question of standing down the corps is bound up with the broader question of standing down the Civil Defence Services generally. I regret that I am not in a position to make a definite statement to-day, but I hope that it will be possible to make an early announcement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport if he can give the detailed figures for road casualties from September, 1939, to the present time.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers, copies of which I am sending him, given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rothwell (Mr. T. J. Brooks) on 24th May, 1944, and my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Sir H. Williams) on 7th February, 1945. I regret that a detailed analysis is not available for the period from September, 1939, to January, 1943.