asked the the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the negotiations conducted by his Under-Secretary during his recent visit to Greece.

As the hon. and gallant Member may recall, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a detailed and comprehensive statement about recent events in Greece on Friday last, and I think I should serve no useful purpose if I tried to add a further general statement now. If the hon. and gallant Member desires to have more information on particular points, perhaps he will be good enough to put down further questions on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Greek Government consulted His Majesty's Government before they announced the postponement of the plebiscite; and what representations His Majesty's Government made on this subject.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State dealt fully with the question of the postponement of the plebiscite in Greece in the statement which he made to the House on Friday last. He explained then the circumstances in which the postponement was proposed, the advice which was given and the reasons for this advice. To that full and precise statement, I have nothing to add.

In the event of the newly elected Greek Parliament—

That is a hypothetical question. "In the event" certainly indicates that it is going to be hypothetical.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on recent happenings in Indonesia with particular regard to Sourabaya; and if he will assure this House that British and Indian troops will not be used to support the French and the Netherlands Governments in any consequences that may arise from a refusal to recognise the independence of Indonesia and Indo-China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the disfavour with which British people regard the possibility that British forces will be used to suppress the native populations of Indonesia and Indo-China; and will he give an assurance that our troops will only be used to secure the evacuation of British and other European nationals desirous of leaving the areas concerned.

In his statements on 24th October and on Friday last, my right hon. Friend explained the purposes for which British troops were sent to the Netherlands East Indies and to Indo-China, and explained the policy which His Majesty's Government have pursued. I am sure my hon. Friends will agree that his statement was warmly endorsed both by the House and by the nation. I need, therefore, add nothing to that statement except to remind my hon. Friends that the Indonesian Leader, Mr. Sjahrir, was reported last night to have expressed his confidence that a settlement by agreement could be reached between the Indonesians and our Dutch Allies. His Majesty's Government will continue to do everything in their power to promote that end.

Has my right hon. Friend's attention been drawn to recent reports that, as a kind of reprisal or punitive measure for the discovery of mutilated bodies, British troops actually burned a number of native villages? Can he say if that is so, and will he bear in mind that that kind of punitive measure has been rather under a cloud since Lidice?

I have not heard any such reports. I do know that a number of acts of terrorism have been committed against internees, and that it is of vital importance to prevent terrorism from spreading.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a good deal has happened since the date he mentioned in October, and surely the time is ripe for another statement? Will the right hon Gentleman assure the House that the British Government will fix its objective definitely and spare no pains to see that that objective is attained; and that there will not be any muddling about through lack of clarity as to objectives?

I think if the hon. Gentleman will examine the statement made by my right hon. Friend, he will see that the purposes for which our troops are in Indo-China are really the same as those for which they are in Java. A very full statement was made by my right hon. Friend on Friday last, and I do not think I need add anything to it.

Has not my right hon. Friend seen in the Press reports of the burning of these native villages as a reprisal, and has he not made any inquiries?

I have not seen the reports, and have not made any inquiries, but I will now do so

Is it not the case that the lives of these British lads are being risked and sacrificed in the interests of the rubber merchants?

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that while nobody wishes to condone acts of terrorism, and everyone believes that if the culprits can be found they should be punished, we in this country have never believed that the proper way to prevent acts of terrorism is to have indiscriminate reprisals?

Yes, of course, but I would ask my hon. Friend to remember that the situation in Indonesia today is one of the greatest difficulty to all concerned, and, above all, to our commanders who are in charge, and that the lives of perhaps 125,000 innocent people, largely women and children, are at stake.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British-owned rubber plantations in the Dutch East Indies are now in the hands of Indonesian irregulars; and what representations have been received from the owners of these plantations by His Majesty's Government as to the effect of he Dutch Government's announcement of a rubber monopoly in the Dutch East Indies.

I regret I cannot tell my hon. Friend how many plantations belonging to British subjects are in the hands of Indonesian irregulars. I am awaiting information about these plantations and other British property from the Foreign Office representative in Batavia. So far as I am aware, His Majesty's Government have received no representations from British planters or plantation owners about the rubber monopoly which the Dutch Government have proposed.

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to assure the House that there is no association between these British-owned plantations and the presence of British troops in Indonesia?

Yes, Sir, without the slightest hesitation. My right hon. Friend has explained why it is necessary to send troops, and I do hope that suggestions will not be made which would endanger the hope, based on the report last night which I have quoted, that there may be a settlement by agreement between the Indonesians and our Dutch Allies. That is the object we must keep in view, and which we must at all costs endeavour to promote.

Is it not a fact that the presence of British troops there simply arose out of our obligations, first to our Dutch Allies and second, for the preservation of peace? It is a most thankless task throughout, and our local commanders deserve full support and not insinuations against our motives.

While everybody realises that the commanders on the spot have got an extremely difficult job and have done their best, is it not the case that the Dutch offer referred to by my right hon. Friend last Friday does not go even as far as British Dominion status?

I should not accept that for a moment. If my hon. Friend will examine the statement of 6th November, he will see that it does go extremely far. The system, of course, is different from that of Dominion status, but it goes extremely far. I would beg him to await confirmation of the report last night that the Indonesian leaders themselves are still hoping for a settlement by agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British-owned plantations in the Dutch East Indies, the acreage and the amount of capital invested in them by British subjects.

I understand that before the war there were rougnly 40 British tea and rubber plantations in the Netherlands East Indies. With other British plantations, they had a total cultivated area of more than 600,000 acres. The plantations were held on leasehold. I am informed that, in order to bring them to the bearing stage, and to equip them with buildings and plant, the average sum expended per acre was between£55 and£60. On this basis, the total. British capital invested in these plantations would be between£30 and£40 million.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware that on French trains, scats are reserved for wounded ex-Servicemen; and whether, after obtaining particulars of the working of the French system, he will give priority on British railways to ex-Service holders of the silver disc.

The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. Arrangements are already in force on the British railways whereby, on the prior production of a medical certificate, seats are reserved for invalids and disabled ex-Servicemen who are unable to travel standing. I do not feel that 1 should be justified in reserving accommodation for all holders of the silver badge.

May we hope that the matter will be reconsidered when there is more room in the trains?

Yes, Sir; I am always prepared favourably to consider increased facilities as we move away from general traffic problems.

asked the Minister of War Transport how much has been expended by the four main line railway companies on railway works, extensions or improvements of a capital nature during the operation of the Railway Control Agreement.

The amount charged to capital account by the four main line railway companies in respect of works and equipment during the period 1st September, 1939, to 10th November, 1945, is approximately£18 millions. In addition, about£85 millions has been spent on renewal account.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of accidents.

asked the Minister of War Transport what arrangements are being made by the main line railway companies to deal with traffic passing during the Christmas period; whether sufficient accommodation will be available for the travelling public; what restrictions will be fatal and otherwise, to members of the public whilst travelling on the railways in Great Britain; what percentage this bears to the total travelling public; and the total of passenger train miles run, for the years 1938 to 1944 and for the first 10 months of 1945.

As the answer contains a number of figures, I am circulating the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-gether with additional particulars, where available, of the passenger-miles per casualty, which give a truer comparison, than passenger journeys per casualty. It will be seen that in 1944, in train accidents, one passenger was killed in 150 millions carried and one seriously injured f in 54 millions.

Passenger traffic before and after Christmas is likely to be heavy and the railways will do everything in their power to deal with it by providing such additional trains as their limited resources of staff, locomotives and carriages permit. The services will be an improvement on those provided last Christmas, but notwithstanding this trains are likely to be crowded. Train services on Christmas Day will generally be the same as on an ordinary Sunday and on Boxing Day as on an ordinary weekday, except that workmen's and business trains will be cancelled and there will be some augmentation of services in the afternoon and evening. The acceptance of merchandise traffic over the Christmas holiday will be, so far as practicable, in accordance with the needs of industry.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware that the railways have been closed to the seed potato traffic to England; that these seeds have been bagged and are now in danger of going bad; and if he will reopen the railways to this traffic.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the hold-up of rail transport for seed potatoes in central Scotland and the imminent danger on account of frost of the destruction of large quantities of seed ready and dressed for sending to England; and what steps he is taking in the matter.

I regret that, owing to the illness of certain persons, I am not able to answer this Question at the moment.

Is not the Minister aware of the serious position created by this closing of the railways to the seed potato traffic?

Is the Minister aware that the Scottish railway companies are refusing to accept any perishable goods for three weeks?

Does this refer to the answer on seed potatoes?

Yes.

I must apologise because I have not got the reply in my folder. If it causes inconvenience to the House, I must express my regret, but it is not here, and, at the moment, I cannot answer the question.

Is the Minister not aware that this is not a question—

I will undertake to send the reply to the hon. Members who put down the Questions. In the meantime, I must ask leave to express my apologies.

I have found the answer to Question 43, which was with a previous Question that was not called, and, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will read it. I hope the House will not hold against me my ingenuity in trying to get out of a temporary difficulty. I regret that owing to congestion caused by fog and heavy traffic it was necessary temporarily to stop the acceptance of traffic, including seed potatoes, at stations in Scotland for conveyance by the L.N.E.R. route to England. Both the railway companies and my Department are very conscious of the importance of ensuring that seed potatoes are moved, and the traffic receives a high priority. I am glad to say that it was possible to resume acceptance of seed potatoes on Thursday, 22nd November, and providing the better weather conditions continue I hope that regular movement will be maintained.

Will the Minister take care, when events like this occur, to put coastal shipping facilities at the disposal of the potato growers?

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his colleague the Minister of Agriculture whether it is not a fact that a great deal of the Scottish seed was bad last year and ruined the English crop, and will he do his best to see that it does not happen again?

With regard to the first supplementary question, already a large consignment of these seed potatoes has been moved by coastwise shipping—quite a considerable quantity. It is impossible to deal with an emergency matter of this description by that arrangement. In reply to the second supplementary question, the Ministry of Food and my Department have tackled this problem early for the purpose of spreading deliveries over a longer period this year.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he is aware that last week the L.N.E.R. Company, without previous notice, suddenly refused to receive a considerable quantity of vegetables at their Norfolk stations, resulting in the loss of quantities of perishable vegetables; and what steps he is taking to prevent such occurrences in future.

I am informed that last week there was a shortage of wagons at the L.N.E.R. stations in Norfolk for vegetable traffic, but I am not aware that this resulted in any loss of perishable vegetables. The importance of avoiding such loss is fully appreciated and every effort is made to provide road transport where sufficient railway wagons are not available.

asked the Minister of War Transport (1) whether he is prepared to take over the Penarth Road toll bridge at Cardiff and free it from toll;

This bridge is privately owned and will require to be reconstructed if it is to be made suitable to carry all classes of traffic. Initiative in this matter rests with the local authorities concerned, and I am prepared to consider any proposals which they may care to put to me for the purpose of acquiring the bridge and freeing it from tolls.

In view of the fact that this vexatious levy has been imposed on the people down there for some years without return, cannot the owner be made to put the toll bridge in reasonable repair before it is taken over?

As I have indicated, this is primarily a matter for the local authority, but I should be only too pleased to assist, if they wished mc to do so.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether his attention has been called to the views of the transport department of the Manchester Corporation with regard to the desirability of increasing the present length and width of omnibuses permitted in existing regulations; and whether, in view of the importance of this change, both to the comfort of pas- sengers in this country and for the development of our export trade in omnibuses, he will arrange for the matter to be considered at an early date.

My attention has not been called to the views of the transport department of the Manchester Corporation, but the general position in regard to the dimensions of passenger service vehicles is now under review, and I hope that a decision on this matter will be reached at an early date.

Is the Minister aware that the public would greatly appreciate a greater width of omnibus for their convenience, and that conductors and others who have to work in the buses would find it of great assistance to them as well? Will he give this matter his favourable consideration?

Is the Minister aware that the public would greatly appreciate a greater width of omnibus for their convenience, and that conductors and others who have to work in the buses would find it of great assistance to them as well? Will he give this matter his favourable consideration?

I quite appreciate the advantages in certain directions, but I have to keep in mind also the serious disadvantages in other directions if this proposal were adopted. However, as I have indicated, I am giving this matter serious examination.

Is the Minister aware that the export market can only be -met by buses of larger dimensions?

I am aware of that aspect of this problem.

Is the Minister aware that a lot of routes in country districts cannot be used because buses are already too wide?

That is one of the problems of the other side of this picture to which I was referring.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of vehicles operated by his Department under the Road Haulage Organisation; the number compulsorily acquired with the controlled undertakings; and the number hired to it.

The number of vehicles controlled by the Road Haulage Organisation is 33,816. The number of vehicles operated by controlled undertakings under agreements is 11,891, and the number of vehicles on long term hire is 7.871. The balance is made up mainly of vehicles on charter or regular hire for the carriage of meat, and some 1,500 ex-War Department vehicles. No vehicles have been compulsorily acquired.

In view of the large scale operations of the Road Haulage Organisation, will the Minister consider publishing a report on its operations, especially in view of the paucity of statistics in that industry?

I will certainly consider that suggestion.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of road haulage vehicles, other than ancillary users possessed of C licences, operating long-distance work outside the Road Haulage Organisation.

On the assumption that the information desired is the numbers of road haulage vehicles operating under permits granted under the Road Transport of Goods Order, 1944, I am asking the Regional Transport Commissioners to furnish me with such information as they have and 1 will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rest of the House would like to have the answer too?

asked the Minister of War Transport if he has any plans to announce for the improvement of crossing and traffic lights systems in urban areas.

As soon as practicable, 1 hope that highway authorities generally will make the fullest possible use of all the available means for the control of traffic.

Will the Minister bear in mind, in his consideration, the possibility of giving the significance of "Go" to the red light, in accordance with national policy, and applying the word "Stop" to the green light?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of War Transport what is the policy of his Ministry with regard to the grant of road hauliers licences for the carriage of vegetables in the Eastern and North Midland Regions; and why in the Eastern Region A licence vehicles are restricted to a 60-mile radius, whereas in the North Midland Region licences are granted without restriction, although similar conditions prevail in both regions.

General road traffic for distances over 60 miles is normally carried by the Road Haulage Organisation. Permits for such movements by vehicles outside the Organisation are granted in accordance with the general transport situation in the locality concerned.

When will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to put the hauliers in adjoining areas in the same position instead of maintaining this artificial distinction?

The whole problem involved in this type of traffic will be under very careful review in the near future.

In the meantime it is in a terrible muddle.

asked the Minister of War Transport what is done with the profits resulting from sales in the canteens of troopships.

Canteen prices are fixed so as to produce the minimum of profit, but, owing to the turnover and the small-ness of the units of the commodities dealt in a certain amount of profit does in fact result. These profits, which accrue either to the shipowner or to the Ministry, according to the terms of the charter, are applied for the benefit of Service and Merchant Navy charities and for the improvement of the amenities and general welfare of the Forces who have been carried in the ships, including those of the United States, British Dominions and India. I should like to take this opportunity of saying how helpful and generous the shipping lines have been in this matter.

Has the commanding officer of the ship any word in how the welfare profits are disposed of in connection with his ship?

I cannot say offhand, but I should say "No." If the hon. Gentleman would like to have that information, I will obtain it for him.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many ships are used in connection with the Medloc scheme; what is the capacity of each ship; and whether he is satisfied that they will be sufficient to meet the demands placed on them as personnel in the higher age groups come to be demobilised

At present seven troopships are engaged on the Medloc route, with an average capacity of 2,100 all ranks. There are also two ships exclusively engaged in the Medloc service in the Channel between Newhaven and Dieppe with a capacity of 1,500 each; the balance of Medloc cross Channel movement is routed through Calais to Folkestone and Dover as part of the large scale cross Channel troop movements between those ports. The answer to the last part of the Question 'is "Yes."

asked the Minister of War Transport how many vessels are allocated for moving Service personnel between Norway and this country; and, in view of the delay in bringing back Army personnel from this theatre to this country for demobilisation, if he will augment the number so employed.

The allocation of troopships for the movement of personnel between Norway and this country varies according to Service requirements. The only delay of which I am aware in bringing back Army personnel from Norway for demobilisation occurred in the case of a few hundred troops who were due to arrive by 10th November. The ship allocated to lift them broke down, but an alternative vessel brought them back to this country on 19th November. The remaining members of our Forces in Norway who are due for demobilisation will be brought home in time for their demobilisation dates, in accordance with arrangements agreed with the War Office.

asked the Minister of War Transport why goods and passenger traffic were diverted from the Port of Londonderry during the period of hostilities; and what steps are being taken to restore its prewar traffic to this port.

During the war Service needs, security and other considerations necessarily required adjustments in the steamer services in the Irish cross channel trade. I am not aware of any substantial diversion of goods traffic from the Port of Londonderry, but if the hon. Member would give me particulars of any Londonderry traffic which he claims has been diverted to another port, I will make inquiries. Cattle and goods services between Londonderry and the United Kingdom are at present meeting traffic requirements. These are a service twice a week between Londonderry, Greenock and Glasgow which is augmented as necessary; a service three times a fortnight between Londonderry and Hey-sham, and a weekly service between Londonderry and Liverpool. No suitable ship is at present available to resume the passenger service on the Glasgow/ Londonderry run.

How long does the Minister think it will be before a passenger service is started again?

I cannot give an exact date. If the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question later on, I will see if I can give him a more encouraging answer.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Government's intention not to nationalize the shipping industry and of its desire that this industry should play a full part in the effort towards national recovery, it is proposed to end the administrative control of the Ministry of War Transport over this industry.

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the questions involved are receiving careful consideration, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of War Transport will be making a statement on this subject before long.

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that private enterprise is given no chance of development while the Ministry of War Transport is running the whole business?

I think not

asked the Minister of War Transport how many passages were obtained by his Ministry for civilians proceeding from the United Kingdom to Canada during the months of August, September and October; how many were for British business men and Government officials and how many for the wives of such persons.

As there has been insufficient time to prepare the material to answer this Question, I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as it is possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that farmers cannot face the financial loss of selling their tubercular cows and replacing them with tested animals, he will consider introducing a scheme for dealing with this problem by areas, under which the diseased cows would be slaughtered and compensation paid to the farmers by the Government.

I do not accept the implications of the first part of the Question as being of general application. With regard to the latter part, the question whether further measures can be adopted to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in cattle is engaging my attention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will confer with the Minister of Labour with a view to introducing a greater degree of flexibility into the demobilisation scheme for agricultural workers, in view of the falling-off in numbers available from prisoners of war and other sources.

1 am already in consultation with my right, hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service on this matter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the imports a nee of informing the war agricultural executive committees that the emergency is no longer so acute in the Forces, and that they could do a great deal if they were more generous in their recommendations of Class B releases?

I am not unhopeful of something happening shortly on the lines indicated.

We must have more men on the land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for the release of agricultural workers under Class B have been received by the Cumberland W.A.E.C.; how many such applications have been supported and forwarded to him by the Cumberland W.A.E.C.; in how many cases has his Ministry recommended release; and how many releases have actually been obtained.

Ninety-six applications for Class B release under the individual specialists scheme have been dealt with by the Cumberland W.A.E.C. up to date. Nineteen of these have been forwarded to my Department, which recommended seven to the appropriate authorities. Release has been approved in four cases, one has been rejected for noncompliance with the essential conditions, and the decision in the remaining two is awaited.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that from his answer only four out of the applications from Cumberland have been granted under Class B? Is it not high time, in view of the shortage of labour on the land, that a different attitude was adopted towards this question?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman will agree, of course, that the numbers to which the Ministry of Agriculture were limited to the end of December applied only to specialists, and that unless the applicant complies with that condition he cannot be accepted.

Is not that policy limiting the food output?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if Cumberland can be taken as a sample for the rest of the country, and how many people were employed in making all the inquiries which secured the release of two or three people?

I am afraid that is another question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the hourly charges made to farmers in Berkshire and Wiltshire for the services of prisoners of war; whether these charges cover transport to the farm; what instructions he has now given the W.A.E.C.s;. on a uniform inclusive charge; and how this inclusive rate charged for prisoners of war compares with the hourly rate earned by British farm workers.

The Berkshire and Wiltshire War Agricultural Executive Committees make the normal hourly charges for prisoners of war, namely, is. 3d. an hour for up to eight hours in any one day and is. 6d. an hour thereafter. In accordance with my Department's instructions, no charge is now made by either committee for transporting prisoners. The minimum rates of wages fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board for adult male workers in the counties concerned average approximately is. 5d. an hour for employment other than overtime. No comprehensive statistics are available as to the actual earnings of agricultural workers.

Where charges in excess of that uniform rate have been paid, will the amount be refunded?

I rather suspect that would be too difficult.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what staff will be required by the county W.A.E.C.s; what scale of salaries will apply to these officers; and what will be their relationship with 'the staff of the new Agricultural Advisory Service.

No substantial modification is at present contemplated in the complements and salaries of staffs of war agricultural executive committees, apart from the transfer of those officers who will be appointed to the National Agricultural Advisory service when it is set up. The question of the relationship of the staff of the committees to that of the advisory service is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now publish details of the expenditure incurred and receipts accruing to the county W.A.E.C.s from their inauguration to the most recent date available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Civil Appropriation Accounts, including Votes for 1940 and 1941 and Class X for subsequent years up to and including 1943. The figures for 1944 will be printed in the volume which will be published in the early part of 1946. Certain information regarding the general items of receipts and payments are contained in the Controller and Auditor-General's Reports printed with the accounts.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is not comprehensive, and it is impossible to get the details? This is a very important point.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he anticipates that the supply of feeding-stuffs will be sufficient to issue rations to brood mares and young stock over and above the present scheme of rations to horses used for essential purposes.

I am unable to say. The supply of animal feeding stuffs is likely to be limited for some considerable time, and the first call on additional supplies, when available, must be to provide more livestock products for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the resettlement grants announced on 15th February last apply to agriculture.

As announced at the time, the scheme to which the hon. Member refers does not apply to resettlement on the land. A separate resettlement grants scheme for agriculture is being brought into operation shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many forestry holdings there are in the county of Norfolk; and in what category are they graded by the Norfolk W.A.E.C.

The number of forest workers' holdings in Norfolk is 139. As regards the last part of the Question, I regret the information is not available.

Is it not rather strange that my right hon. Friend has not the information with regard to the holdings which come directly under his Department while he is continuing control over, and the grading of, other agricultural holdings?

It never has been the policy of the Department to give the figures of farmers in separate categories—A, B and C—for the purpose of avoiding invidious comparisons between county and county.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications have been received from members of His Majesty's Forces for a course of agricultural or horticultural training in the county of Stafford, in particular, and the country as a whole; and what publicity is the Ministry giving to these schemes.

To the end of October, 560 applications had been received for training in England and Wales, of which 24 were for training in Staffordshire. All but a few of the applicants were members of His Majesty's Forces. The agricultural training scheme, which is part of the Government's general vocational training scheme, receives a wide measure of publicity, through various publications issued by the Ministry of Labour and National Service, and through the Press. A film on the subject is now available for showing, and lectures and instructional talks are frequently given to Army and R.A.F. units by officers of my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is his intention to issue the Government's policy for horticulture at an early date; and why no mention of this important aspect of policy has yet been made.

No, Sir, my recent announcement of the general principles on which the Government's agricultural policy will be based, applies to horticulture as an integral part of the agricultural industry in its broadest sense.

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue in the near future a statement giving more detail about each aspect of agriculture and horticulture?

I think it has been made clear to the agricultural and the horticultural industry that the omission from the general statement of principles was not intended to imply that the Department was not fully aware of the importance of horticulture; and that suitable steps, not necessarily the same steps, explained in the broad statement made a fortnight ago, will be taken to deal with the work as and when opportunities occur.

Evesham wants to know more about it.

Is it the policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to encourage the co-operative marketing of vegetables?

We recognise that the biggest problem in horticulture is the question of marketing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is his intention to issue a further statement in the near future explaining how the Government's agricultural policy applies to smallholdings.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. Dye) on 15th October last.

Will my right hon. Friend allow the county councils to carry on with the normal development of smallholdings inside their own areas, as they did before the war?

As I understand it, throughout the course of the war, county councils were not permitted to have loans for the purpose of making more smallholdings, and I think that prohibition still remains.

I am asking my right hon. Friend if he will allow them to continue the pre-war practice.

Before any steps are taken in that directon, consultations will have to take place with the County Councils' Association and various other interests.

Something must be done for the smallholder.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to encourage the growing of wheat, he will increase the price of wheat per quarter by half the amount it was reduced when the acreage payment was introduced.