asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much sugar in the British West Indies is now available for sale and export.

Under existing contracts all sugar available for export from the British West Indies and neighbouring British territories is saleable exclusively to the Ministry of Food. There is no sugar available for sale and export outside these arrangements. On 1st January there were 6,829 tons in Jamaica and 30,584 tons in British Guiana available for shipment under these contracts; and these quantities will be shipped in the ordinary way in accordance with the Ministry of Food's programme. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that these quantities represent a carry-over from the 1945 crop, as it is yet too early for any sugar to have come forward from the current year's crop.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty his present estimate of monthly releases by trades and groups up to 30th June, 1946.

The revised, estimate of releases for the period ending 30th June, 1946, is now being prepared. I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member when the statement is ready.

asked the Minister of Food if he will consider increasing the allotment of meat to pork butchers, in view of the fact that they are dependent upon this single trade.

I have under constant consideration the desirability of increasing the allocations of meat for the production of unrationed meat products by pork butchers and other classes of meat manufacturers, but while I regret the necessity for the present low level of allocations, the supplies of meat are so restricted that it is not yet possible to increase the allocations. I have, however, no intention of limiting issues to the present low level for any longer than is necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the National War Savings Committee will arrange with local authorities that local M.P.s, irrespective of party, be invited to attend public functions for encouraging the National Savings movement in their own constituencies.

Yes, Sir. This has been, and will continue to be, the practice of the National and Scottish Savings Committees. I hope that hon. Members of all parties will give all the support in their power to the Savings Movement in their constituencies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the tonnage of coal exported from South Wales ports in 1913, 1938 and 1945 respectively.

The amount of coal exported from South Wales ports was 29,785,000 tons in 1913 and 14,525,000 tons in 1938. The figure for 1945 is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that permission just granted to the boot and Shoe industry to export to America 12½ per cent. of its 1941 quota is practically valueless because in 1941 Army-boot production virtually prevented such exports; and if he will permit export based on the 1938 figures instead.

The output of the industry is improving but until it has very greatly increased the quantity of boots and shoes which can be released for export must remain strictly limited. The only effect at present of substituting 1938 far 1941 as the basic year would be that allocations would have to be a lower percentage of the basic performance. Advantage has been taken of the improved production however, to relax some of the other arrangements in respect of exports. Until the beginning of this year, exporters of boots and shoes might not send to any one country more than a fixed proportion of their exports to that country in 1941. An exporter now receives a quota, based on his previous exports to all countries, which he can send at his discretion to any country with which there are trading arrangements. An exporter wishing to trade with America is therefore limited to 12½ per cent., not of his previous exports to that country alone, but of his total exports in the basic year

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and the value of floor coverings exported in the last six months for which returns are available; and name the countries to which such exports were sent.

The quantity and value of exports of floor coverings to all countries during June to November, 1945, the last six months for which the figures are available, were as follows:

The principal countries of consignment were: New Zealand (£97,038), Union of South Africa (£60,177), Australia (£53,298), Eire (£33,419), Sweden (£26,317), Canada (£23,688), Channel Islands (£19,832), Argentina (£14,815), Switzerland (£11,490), and Brazil (£10,928).

asked the Minister of Health, what will be the position of non-registered practitioners of osteopathy under the new National Health Service, in regard to practice.

I do not think I ought to anticipate the proposals for the new service as a whole, which I hope before long to be submitting to the House.

asked the Minister of Health, how many provincial operatives, employed either singly or with provincial contractors, on bomb-damage repairs in London have been released since 1st October.

Separate figures are not available of the numbers of provincial operatives released from bomb damage repairs in London since October 1st last; but there has been a reduction of about 15,000 operatives employed on war damage repairs in London, a big proportion of whom were provincial operatives.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, at what figure he estimates the approximate total cost embracing salaries, wages, office expenses, and all extraneous expenses incurred in nationalising the coal industry and establishing the compensation to be paid to owners; and by how much he anticipates the price of coal will be increased to the consumer in order to cover this cost.

It is not practicable, at the present stage, to estimate what the costs in question may amount to. The Bill provides that such costs are in general to be met out of monies provided by Parliament; and they will not, therefore, affect the price of coal in any way. Under the Coal Act, 1938, compensation was paid by the Coal Commission, and the costs thereof were charged against the Commission.

asked the Prime Minister, whether it is the policy of the Government that nationalised industries shall endeavour to make a profit for the benefit of the Exchequer or provide the public with the best possible service at the lowest practicable cost.

Policy will be directed to the latter rather than the former objective; but the two objectives do not represent a complete statement of the possible bases of policy and it would be quite impracticable to make a general pronouncement which would cover all circumstances in all the nationalised industries.

asked the Prime Minister, what diplomatic or other official position has been offered to the Duke of Windsor.

No diplomatic or official position has been offered to His Royal Highness.