asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what considerations, other than financial, are delaying a decision to proceed in due course with the construction of the Severn Barrage.

There are many considerations involved, including estimates of the future price of coal and availability of manpower.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what would be the saving in the cost of the Severn Barrage if it were financed during the period of construction by short-term borrowing, say at 1 per cent. per annum compound interest.

On the basis of the figures in Paragraph 27 of the Report on the Severn Barrage Scheme I estimate that there would be a saving of approximately £3,125,000 if the construction of the Severn Barrage could be financed by short-term borrowing at 1 per cent. per annum compound interest.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what was the average money drawn by workers at the coal face for the years 1940 to 1944, inclusive.

The only official series of earnings in the mining industry relates to average earnings of all workers and the figures are published regularly. Additional information which is provided by the Mining Association indicates that the average earnings per shift for all face workers was about 3s. more than the overall average in 1940, and had risen to about 5s. 6d. more than the overall average in the last quarter of 1944.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the extent of the further cut in fuel supplies to consumers which it is anticipated will be essential to the coming winter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement of 26th April on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with the treatment of and administration in private mental hospitals; and, if not, whether inspection can be more effective.

Private mental hospitals are subject to inspection by the Board of Control, and I am generally satisfied with the treatment provided in these hospitals and their administration. If, however, my hon. Friend has any particular hospital in mind and will give me the relevant particulars, I will arrange for special inquiries to be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now authorise the issue of a poultry ration to discharged ex-Servicemen who have sufficient knowledge to have reasonable prospects of success and desire to keep poultry but, not having been poultry farming on the outbreak of hostilities, are not, under present regulations, qualified for a poultry-feed ration.

I am afraid that existing and prospective feeding stuffs supplies are insufficient to permit of the allocation of rations to holdings where poultry were not kept in 1939. As my hon. Friend is aware, even on existing holdings there have to be severe restrictions on rationed feeding stuffs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if any investigations have been made into soils in greenhouses that have been steamed every year as to whether any elements have been lost and what additions ought to be made after steaming to safeguard tomato crops; and if he will publish the results.

No chemical analyses of steamed soils have been made to ascertain whether mineral elements are lost in consequence of annual steaming. It is, however, known as a result of experiments that there is a loss of organic material from annual steaming, and growers who steam every year are accordingly advised to add straw to the soil every third year before steaming. The results of any further experiments will be published in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many civil applications for the establishment of light industries have been received by his Department, and what local authorities have made them.

A very large number of applications have been made to my Department by firms and industrialists for the post-war use of Government factories for civilian production and also for licences to build new factories. But as these applications are very varied in kind and some are only tentative, it would be misleading to quote any total figure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what results have flowed from the visit of Mr. Campbell, a co-operative expert, sent out a little time ago from his Department to inquire into the possibilities of developing the co-operative movement among Africans in East Africa.

At the request of the Governor of Kenya Mr. W. K. H. Campbell, formerly Joint Registrar of Co-operative Credit Societies in Ceylon, went to Kenya last year to advise the Government of Kenya on the constitution and development of co-operative societies with particular reference to the encouragement of co-operative marketing organisations among Africans, and to make recommendations for the establishment and development of such organisations. His report was made in December and is now being considered by the Kenya Government. A copy will be placed in the Library. A Bill to amend the co-operative societies legislation in Kenya has been prepared with Mr. Campbell's assistance and is now being considered by the Kenya Legislature. Mr. Campbell has also paid visits to Uganda and Tanganyika to give advice on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the district valuer has reported that the price of the 178.7 acres at Gorleston which the Great Yarmouth Council intends to appropriate for housing purposes is £18,800; what was the previous rateable value of this land; and what was the price asked by the owner.

No, Sir. I have not yet received a report by the district valuer on this land, which forms part of an estate of 506 acres purchased by agreement by the Council in 1939 for £30,500. The land is agricultural and is therefore derated.