asked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent fishing vessels are unable to go to sea at the present time owing to the shortage of rubber boots and oilskins; and what steps have been taken to meet the requirements of the industry.

Supplies of these requisites are short at some of the ports but I am not aware of any vessels having been held up on that account except for three vessels at Hull which were delayed for a few hours. Now that crude rubber is again becoming available, a greatly augmented programme of production of rubber boots has been arranged and considerable supplies should be available shortly. A quantity of surplus cotton has been released for the manufacture of oilskins and the question of distribution is being examined.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will forthwith reintroduce the pre-war regulations regarding the minimum sizes of fish which may be landed.

This matter is receiving consideration but certain provisions in the Maximum Prices Orders made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food go some way to achieve the same result as the pre-war Regulations. This question is likely to be discussed at the forthcoming International Conference on overfishing

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is yet in a position to give some indication of his plans for improving animal health and reducing the toll of disease among farm animals in this country.

I attach great importance to this aspect of agricultural policy. In addition to the schemes for the improvement of the health of our herds and flocks which are now in operation further plans are under active consideration, and I hope to make statements about them in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the present labour force in agriculture is pool labour under the control of the W.A.E.C.s, and the proportion of this pool labour which consists of German prisoners; how long he anticipates that the German prisoners will be available; and what steps he proposes to replace them when they return to their own country.

The pool labour under the control of county war agricultural executive committees amounts to about one-fifth of the total labour force in agriculture. German prisoners of war account for about one-half of the pool labour. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of today to a Question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins).

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Italian and German prisoners of war have been taken from the agricultural industry; and how many more does he expect will leave the agricultural industry before the next harvest is gathered.

During December the numbers of Italian and German prisoners working in agriculture declined by 3,400 and 3,000 respectively. A proportion of these decreases represents temporary loans to other Departments. I expect that by the next harvest the bulk of the remaining 56,000 Italians will have been repatriated but that at least an equivalent number of German prisoners will then be available for agricultural work.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are now proposed to prevent the recurrent flooding of dwelling-houses in the villages of Salcott and Virley by repairing the seawall.

I am advised that the Essex Rivers Catchment Board are about to consider a programme of works for the Financial Year 1946–47 which, if the necessary labour is available and the local facilities required are forthcoming, will include work on the sea-wall at Salcott and Varley.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now able to state that existing regulations governing the granting of dairy licences in England are to be immediately amended so as to make eligible for such licences bulls carrying Scottish milk records.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to a similar question by the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Sir J. Barlow).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of persons employed by W.A.E.C.s during the war, and the particulars of the cultivations and work carried out by them on their own behalf and for farmers, respectively.

It is estimated that in the middle of 1945 approximately 45,000 to 50,000 manual workers were employed by War Agricultural Executive Committees. I regret that without further information as to what my hon. Friend has in mind I cannot give the particulars desired in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for the release of agricultural workers have been received by the Nottinghamshire W.A.E.C.; how many have been supported and forwarded to his Department by the Committee; how many cases were recommended for release by his Department; and in how many cases release has been approved, respectively.

Of 61 applications so far received for the release of former agriculturalists under the Class B individual specialist scheme, the Nottinghamshire W.A.E.C. have supported 19. Ten of these cases have been recommended by my Department and four others are still under consideration. Release has been approved by the appropriate authorities in nine cases, and one case has been rejected by the Service Department concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider extending the release of agricultural workers under Class B to fishermen, both inshore and deep sea, to enable all fishing boats around our coast to be fully manned.

Arrangements have already been made on food production grounds for a special release of deep sea fishermen under Class B. I should not feel justified on those grounds in seeking a similar priority for inshore fishermen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken to enable veterinary students in the Services to resume their studies at the universities; and whether the number of students desiring to study for this profession is likely to equal the demand for veterinarians in the future.

Yes, Sir. Arrangements were sanctioned in September, 1945, under which certain veterinary students with approximately three years' service in the Forces can be released in Class B, subject to recommendation by their Universities or colleges. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that applications to enter the veterinary colleges exceed the vacancies, and I have no reason to suppose that the number of students offering themselves will be inadequate to meet the demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ensure that supplies of feeding stuffs for young cattle and of basic slag for the improvement of pastures and reseeded fields are made available in sufficient quantities to satisfy the permits which have been issued to farmers by agricultural committees.

I am in constant touch with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Food and the President of the Board of Trade with a view to ensuring that sufficient feeding stuffs and phosphatic fertilisers are made available to meet all coupons and permits issued. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that phosphatic fertilisers, including basic slag, are not at present being released for use on grassland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what other countries en- gaged in whale fishing are issuing orders similar to the Whaling Industry (Ship) Regulations (S.R. & O., 1945, No. 1512).

The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect under the terms of British legislation to obligations entered into by His Majesty's Government under certain International Whaling Agreements. Corresponding obligations have been accepted by the other parties to those agreements, of whom so far as I am aware only Norway is actively participating in the current Antarctic season. The Norwegian expeditions are operating under similar restrictions to our own.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many branch lines have been closed in Scotland for either passenger or goods traffic since September, 1939.

Two branch lines have been closed for both passenger and goods traffic; two for goods traffic only; and 11 for passenger traffic only. I am forwarding to my hon. Friend particulars of the lines affected.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is prepared to issue an instruction that no further closing down of branch lines should be undertaken pending the nationalisation of transport.

No, Sir, but no branch lines will be closed in present circumstances without my prior concurrence.

asked the Minister of War Transport why the L.M.S. Railway Company have refused to accept Bank of England five pound notes in exchange for railway tickets.

The instructions issued to railway staffs on the subject are to the effect that unless there is reason to doubt their genuineness or the change required is not available or is appreciably in excess of £1, £5 notes tendered in payment of fares or carriage charges may be accepted. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Bank of England £5 note is legal tender in payment only of an amount of £5 or over, and change cannot be demanded as a matter of right if it is tendered for payment of a smaller sum.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he has now reviewed the question of cheap fares on the railways; and whether it is his intention to restore these facilities in the near future.

I do not consider that conditions on the railways are such that the time is ripe to restore these facilities. I propose to review the question again at Easter time.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many railway accidents in the last 10 years have been found to have been to any extent due to the driver of the train having taken a large amount of drink; and how many complaints the railway companies have had on this point during the same period.

I am making inquiries and will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the need in agriculture for Army trucks now standing rotting; and what steps does he propose to take to simplify and quicken their sale for civilian purposes.

There are many demands for such surplus Army trucks as are suitable for civilian use and can be reconditioned. A full account of the position as regards supply was given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production in October last. As regards the second part of the Question, I have already informed manufacturers that I am prepared forthwith to abolish the system where under purchases of ex-Service reconditioned load carriers may only be made on the authority of a certificate from my Department, if they will undertake to honour certificates outstanding at the date of de-control.

asked the Minister of War Transport if, in view of the continued overcrowded state of the L.N.E.R. suburban services, he will make arrangements to restore the Green Line omnibus services between Romford and London.

The London Passenger Transport Board intend to restart a Green Line Service between Romford and London early in March.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will extend the 12-journey ticket's validity to 14 days, as existed prior to the war, instead of the present eight days.

No, Sir. The 12-journey tickets in the Northern Region afford priority of travel to the holders at peak hours. If the period of validity of the tickets were increased to 14 days, they could be used by passengers who are not regular travellers and the priority, for which there is still a need, would have to be withdrawn. The matter is, however, being kept under review.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will add doctors to the list of priority categories for reconditioned Service motor-cars, which now includes nurses, midwives and disabled ex-Servicemen.

No; I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northwich (Mr. J. Foster) on 5th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will give an assurance that there is no intention of nationalising road transport vehicles which are exclusively Class C licence vehicles.

I cannot at present go further than the Lord President's recent statement or anticipate at this stage the legislative proposals which will in due course be laid before the House.

asked the Minister of War Transport what action he is proposing to take to enable ex-Service personnel to obtain priority licences for road haulage.

If a member of the Forces held a licence at the beginning of the war to operate a certain tonnage of goods vehicles, and if he has not sold his business, the fact will stand in his favour if he applies for a permit for a similar tonnage now. Under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, any persons, including members of the Forces, who apply for licences for new businesses or for additional vehicles, must satisfy the licensing authority that there is a public need. I should add that the scope for newcomers into the industry is at the present time very small.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether, in view of the fact that the number of persons killed on the roads in built-up areas during the hours of darkness have increased from September to October from 53 to 107, and the number injured from 1,516 to 2,589, since the revoking of the 20 m.p.h. speed limit during the hours of darkness in built-up areas, he will reconsider the matter.

Accidents on roads in built-up areas tend to increase as the days grow shorter. Bearing in mind that in September, 1945, we reverted to Greenwich mean time, and that traffic of all kinds is steadily increasing, I do not think that the revocation of the wartime 20 m.p.h. speed limit can be assumed to have a direct bearing on the increase, as between September and October, 1945, of the number of deaths and injuries due to road accidents.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether any proposals have yet been discussed for maintaining a minimum effectual tonnage of merchant shipping; and whether any discussions have taken place with the shipping industry in order to carry this into effect.

The Government's objective is that the merchant fleet under the British flag shall be at least as large as in 1939 and as much larger as British enterprise and skill can operate on a profitable basis in fair competition on the world market. This objective will most effectively be promoted by bringing about conditions by which international trade can flourish. The Government are keeping these guiding principles in mind in their relations with other maritime countries, as well as in formulating the methods of control of British shipping in the transitional period, and the terms of disposal of Government tonnage as announced last week. The shipping industry is fully consulted on all these matters.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many officers and men manned the British Merchant Navy before the war, how many were lost during the war and how many are now available and serving in the Merchant Navy; the total tonnage of our Merchant Navy before the war; what tonnage was lost in the war; and what tonnage is now available and serving our trade needs.

It is not possible to give exactly comparable figures, but the numbers of merchant seamen employed before the war were not widely different from those employed at the present time, namely, about 140,000 plus about 35,000 Asiatic seamen. The number of merchant seamen reported as having lost their lives as a result of enemy action and other war causes is 28,948. In addition, 363 British seamen are reported as having lost their lives while serving in Allied ships chartered by this country. The figures are still not complete.

In 1939 the gross tonnage on the United Kingdom Register of vessels of 500 g.t. and over was 16.9 millions. The corresponding figure at the present time is 13.3 million g.t. This is supplemented by tonnage chartered, mainly from the United States and Canada, which is temporarily on the United Kingdom register. Such additional tonnage amounts to 2.9 million g.t. Excluding the losses of chartered or requisitioned tonnage temporarily under the British flag, the total gross tonnage lost during the war was 11.3 million.

asked the Minister of War Transport what steps he is taking to replace the war losses of personnel and tonnage in, and to encourage recruitment to, the Merchant Navy and, in particular, to make the Merchant Navy a more healthy, secure and remunerative career for both married men and bachelors.

There is no shortage of personnel for the Merchant Navy. In fact, a scheme of demobilisation on somewhat similar lines to that for the Armed Services is in operation. Tonnage is being replaced by building to the order of shipowners. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer to my answer to my hon. Friend's previous Question.

asked the Minister of War Transport to what extent the National Maritime Board work in co-operation with his Department; and what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, in conjunction with that Board, or otherwise, to improve the entry, training for and promotion, accommodation, hygiene and general conditions in the Merchant Navy.

The National Maritime Board keep in the closest touch with my Department. Recruitment and training are being considered by the Merchant Navy Training Board, which is composed of representatives of my Department, the Ministry of Education and the National Maritime Board and which has recently produced reports on the training of deck officers, deck ratings and engineer officers. On accommodation new instructions have recently been agreed with the National Maritime Board. On questions of hygiene, I receive full assistance from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health as well as from my own medical advisers.

asked the Minister of War Transport the cause of the present transport congestion in the Liverpool docks area, through which many British manufacturers are having great difficulty in exporting their finished goods; and what steps are being taken to improve conditions for users of that port.

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and various liner conferences have been consulted and I do not find that there is at present any abnormal transport congestion in the Liverpool docks area. If the hon. Member has any specific information, I shall be glad to pursue investigations.

asked the Minister of War Transport how many merchant ships have been sold from the Shipping Pool by the U.S. Government during the last six months; and how many of them have been bought by the British Government or British ship owners.

The U.S. Government is party to the ruling by the United Maritime Authority that ships of use for United Maritime Authority purposes should not be transferred to countries not participating in the United Maritime Authority, No ships have been bought from the United States Government for United Kingdom Register during the last six months.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will consider a revision of the disproportionate charge of a single railway or omnibus fare as against the reduced charge for a return ticket and institute an equal unit charge for each single or double journey.

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he will issue a Report to the House showing what steps have been taken to date and what progress made to correlate rail and road freight and passenger rates and charges.

Hitherto the question of transport charges has been dominated by the necessities of a wartime economy and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served at present by the issue of such a statement as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will state what progress has been made by the L.P.T.B., by giving data to illustrate the differences in the year 1932 as against 1939, in matters of stock-values; returns to stock-holders; costs of administration; fares, salaries and wages; and numbers of rail and road vehicles respectively.

My hon. Friend will find most of the information he seeks in the reports of the London Passenger Transport Board which are laid before the House. These reports are kept in the House of Commons Library and contain a comprehensive review of the Board's progress under the various heads, including those mentioned in the question. The values of the Board's stocks are influenced by many factors outside the control of the Board, and the course of the Stock Exchange quotations are recorded in the financial Press.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state respectively the details and the value of merchandise allocated by Government Departments to Surplus Textiles Corporation in 1944 and 1945.

Sales by Government Departments to the Surplus Textile Corporation amounted to £380,550 in 1944 and £435,434 in 1945. The goods sold were mostly blankets, but some miscellaneous clothing was included. Further quantities of goods of these kinds are on offer to the Corporation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is taking steps to break down monopoly in the British film industry; and whether he will take steps to check the investment of large sums of money in costly undertakings, such as the recent film "Caesar and Cleopatra," in view of the loss to the country if such undertakings fail to find markets abroad.

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7th November last to my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Reeves). Since then I have been in close touch with the interests which are mainly affected by the Report on Tendencies to Monopoly in the Cinematograph Film Industry, and I hope to be able before long to make a further announcement. The film "Ceasar and Cleopatra" was made very largely for the special purpose of helping other British films to be widely shown in the U.S.A. I understand that no other picture likely to cost as much as this one is contemplated at present by any British producer; but I should certainly not wish to discourage producers from making films in this country for international distribution and planning their budgets accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average time taken by his Department to answer requests for permits to buy new furniture; and whether he proposes to take any steps to reduce the period.

Requests for permits for utility furniture are now dealt with on an average in three weeks, unless, owing to the insufficiency of the information supplied, further enquiries have to be made. The time has been substantially reduced, and steps are continually being taken to reduce it still further, though temporarily, owing to a very high sickness rate amongst the staff, the delay may be prolonged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among ex-Servicemen desirous of purchasing utility furniture owing to the deferment of units; and if he will take steps to ensure that sufficient brown units are provided to enable ex-Servicemen to furnish at least two rooms.

Production of utility furniture is steadily improving, but I am afraid that it is still not sufficient to enable me to validate all the deferred units. I hope, however, to be able to validate some of them very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider allowing all bona fide cabinet makers to manufacture furniture, free from control, from second-hand furniture, providing that no new timber is required.

Cabinet makers have for some time been able to do under licence the kind of work described by the hon. Member, but owing to various abuses this arrangement will shortly be discontinued. In its place cabinet makers, who had their own businesses before the war, will be licensed to manufacture to specification certain useful articles of furniture at controlled prices. Repairs can, of course, still be done without a licence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will help mem- bers of the women's auxiliary services, who are demobilised without any civilian outfit, by providing them with a list showing how they can best obtain a supply of clothes for the extra 56 coupons issued to them sufficient to give women released from the Services parity in this matter with men.

No, Sir. The matter is essentially one of individual choice and taste, and I should be reluctant to advise on it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the hardship imposed on small firms by his compulsory export regulations; that such firms have as yet unsatisfactory foreign channels for the sale of exports, are granted insufficient priorities by his Department for their shipment and tend to be forced either into black market activities or into a restriction of production to their home market quotas; and if he will take the earliest opportunity to relax or to alter these regulations.

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, we must increase our export trade very considerably if we are to earn the currency necessary for our essential imports. I appreciate that small firms who are inexperienced in the export field have special difficulties, but we are doing all we can to put them in the way of export business where necessary. If the hon. and gallant Member has any special case in mind and will send me particulars, I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons special increases of paper quota have been granted to small publishers; and on what conditions.

The reason is that small book publishing firms which are without other interests or associations have often found great difficulty in keeping alive with the very small quantity of paper allowed them. The special increases are limited to such firms but no conditions are laid down except that they shall use the paper themselves and shall not be obtaining paper from other sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will accord facilities to Messrs. Cullen, Carver and Wilshaw, of Nottingham, to import additional paper from Sweden for making up into paper bags for export at between two and three times the price of the imported material, thus benefiting the foreign exchange position.

I am taking up with the manufacturers of paper bags the question of the proportion of their output to be imported out of the total quantity of material which supply and exchange considerations permit to be exported in present conditions. So long as imports must be so limited, I do not think it would be justifiable to accord special treatment to particular firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange the importation of almond oil, peach-kernel oil and arachis oil, and for priority in the purchase of glass containers, packings and cartons, to enable Messrs. M. Beetham & Son, of Cheltenham, to execute export orders which are sufficient at present to keep their works going for over 12 months.

My Department would consider sympathetically an application to import bitter almond and peach kernel oils for making goods for export. Arachis oil is produced in this country and application for a supply for export should be made to the Oils and Fats Division of the Ministry of Food. It is administratively impracticable to have a priority scheme for glass containers or cartons applicable to individual export orders, but the allocations of paper and board for packing toilet preparations have recently been substantially increased and my Department is doing everything possible to help the glass container manufacturers to increase their production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what extent the price of imported coir yarn has increased per cwt. in recent years; and if he has figures to show how this difference has been distributed to the Indian workers and to the middlemen, merchants and others in India who get profits on the yarn prior to export from India;

(2) what steps he is taking to prevent excessive prices for coir yarn; and if he is considering importing coir yarn from Ceylon and the other countries further east that grow coconut palms.

Current Indian market quotations have recently risen rapidly and are at the moment nearly four times pre-war. We have considerable stocks and we shall certainly endeavour to avoid buying at these prices. I have no information concerning the disposition of the price in India. I understand that the Ceylon yarn is not suitable for all purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Indian coir matting imported and sold in Britain is sold at higher prices than coir matting, at least equally as good, made in Britain; whether the number of employees in the coir matting industry in Britain has recently declined; and if he will investigate the matter with a view to stopping this decline.

I am aware that the prices of imported coir matting are generally higher than those of home produced matting. I am not aware that the number of employees in the industry in this country has recently declined but I Will look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what industrial plant has arrived in this country as part of German reparations; and to what extent it is being used in State factories.

Plant and equipment declared by the Control Council as available for reparation from the Western zones of Germany are first allocated by that Council between Russia and Poland on the one hand and the remaining reparation claimant countries on the other. The share allotted to these latter Powers has then to be allocated among them by the Inter-Allied Reparations Agency on which they are all represented. A number of plants have already been declared available and the Russian share of them has been determined. It is hoped that the Inter-Allied Agency will begin the week of allocation among the remaining Powers in the near future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the high quality of certain deaf aids made in the U.S.A., he will consider remitting the Customs duty on these instruments in order to bring their selling price in this country within the reach of those with moderate means; and whether he will also consider if some arrangement can be made between this country and the U.S.A. for the mutual exchange of such articles as deaf aids, artificial limbs, eyes, etc., without the payment of any duties on either side.

Deaf aids produced in this country are available at prices which, in general, compare favourably with those charged by overseas manufacturers. The type which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind is required for a very small proportion of cases of deafness. I have considered the information as to the price at which it is available to purchasers in this country and I do not feel that I can advise my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that a remission of import duty would be justified. The matter will, however, be kept under review, together with the suggestion that we should negotiate with the United States Government for general tariff concessions in this field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the difficult position of deaf people, in that home manufacturers cannot supply the hearing aids required, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will release £10,000 of exchange immediately to import hearing aids and make life easier for some of the deaf people in this country.

Imports of hearing aids are permitted where it is a question of meeting a special need which cannot be met from domestic production. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member has a particular case of hardship in mind and would care to refer it to me, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Standard factory at Pallion, Sunderland, remains unoccupied after being completed 15 months, in view of the need for factory space; when this factory will be tenanted; and who are the firms being considered as tenants.

The Standard factory at Pallion has only just been completed. It was allocated in advance to Charles Twigg & Co., Ltd., of Birmingham, who are now moving in their machinery as speedily as possible. There is another factory erected by the Ministry of Aircraft Production at Pallion for radio valve production, which has not been declared surplus, and the future use of which is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of factories allotted to foreign manufacturers since the close of the war with Germany, as at the latest convenient date; whether he ascertains, before making such allocations, that existing factories in this country for the production of similar articles are not equal to home needs and export demands; and if he will satisfy himself that local employment will not be affected by such allocations as he may approve.

Surplus Government factories have been allocated only to British registered companies. Four or five of these have appreciable foreign holdings. The considerations mentioned in the latter part of the Question are in all cases taken into account when allocations are being made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of medicine bottles in chemists' shops at Macclesfield; and will he arrange for manufacturers to give priority to their manufacture.

There is a general shortage of glass bottles owing to lack of sufficient labour in the industry, which my Department is doing its best to increase. The manufacturers have been asked to give priority to supplies of bottles for a number of essential purposes, including medicine bottles. If the public would return to the chemists any empty medicine bottles which they have, they would be of great assistance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to promote the extension of British exports in the world market, he will give consideration to the immediate acquisition, in all the potential world buying centres, of well-equipped informative establishments, illustrating and exhibiting the craftsmanship and products of British industry.

No; it is doubtful whether permanent showrooms of this kind are the best method of attracting trade. Exporting industries generally prefer to have their goods displayed at branch establishments, agents' offices, or in the premises of local merchant or importing firms. Special displays for short periods are likely to be the more adequate complement to the regular selling efforts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of pairs of boots and shoes exported between 1st October, 1945, and 31st December, classifying as between male, female and juvenile.

The following table shows the exports of leather boots and shoes in the last three months of 1945, classified as between men's, women's and children's; only totals are available for the much smaller exports of slippers, etc., and of boots and shoes of materials other than leather.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the desire of many women to replace their wartime blackout curtains with new curtains this spring; and whether he will now make suitable materials available at a reasonable price and free of coupons.

I am well aware of the demand for new curtain material, but, with the shortage of labour in the textile industries, particularly in the spinners' section, production is only barely sufficient at present to meet the demand against priority dockets. I cannot therefore adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a private firm registered as Allied Control, without the word Ltd. after the title, is dealing extensively in second-hand cars; that the inference given, and intended, is that they are an official body; and what action, retrospective or otherwise, is being taken to protect the public in this and any similar cases.

A private business was registered under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, in October, 1945, with the name Allied Control Company. The general nature of its business was described in the application form as manufacture and repair of engineering and scientific instruments. I agree that the name is misleading and that the public ought to be protected from such abuses, but the Board of Trade have at present no power to refuse such a registration. The question of providing such powers is being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average length of time between the receipt of an application for a patent by the Patent Office and the issue of the examiner's report.

The average interval is at present about 20 months. The delay is due to the transfer of the bulk of the technical staff to more immedate and urgent duties during the war and the impossibility under war conditions of replacing losses through death and retirement. Since the end of hostilities special steps have been taken to secure the return of transferred staff and to provide additional staff, but there is still a shortage of candidates with the necessary qualifications, and time is necessarily occupied in training new staff on this specialised work. It will be some time, therefore, before an improvement in the present position can be effected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that farmers in Northern Ireland are dissatisfied with the price to be paid for flax grown in 1946; and if he will give any indication as to the present stock of flax which will be available for the flax spinners in this country.

I regret that farmers should be dissatisfied with the prices offered, but they have been arrived at after careful consideration as being sufficient to secure the acreage required. Present stocks together with the anticipated production in 1946 will amount to 76,000 tons, as against an estimated consumption of 41,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the delay that is taking place in dealing with applications for licences for timber urgently required for housing purposes; and what steps he is taking to ensure that applications for supplies needed for this purpose are dealt with expeditiously.

At the present time we aim at issuing a licence within 48 hours of the receipt of an application supported by the certificate of the Government Department concerned. In order to expedite procedure, these two documents will shortly be combined. If the hon. and gallant Member has any specific case in mind and will let me have particulars, I will look into it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the collection of waste paper is on the decline, he will take all available steps through the Press and the radio to make the public salvage conscious.

Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Mr. Orr-Ewing) on 23rd January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to help persons whose houses have been bombed and who, in consequence, have been given a priority to obtain beds, blankets, sheets, towels and other household linen, to save them from having to wait several months before they can obtain these articles.

The delay in delivery of household furnishings against priority dockets varies with the type of goods. In many cases, shops are able to give delivery immediately from stock, or at worst within a few weeks. Supplies of textiles are still severely limited by the shortage of labour in spinning, though production for some time has been increasing. This improvement should be apparent in the form of furnished articles in the shops within a few months. There is no delay in the delivery of utility bedsteads; and towels, which are rationed, are in adequate supply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to consider amending the War Damage Act, 1943, in order to allow accrued interest to be paid on war damage settlements that are being, and have been, made on grounds of hardship.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on 15th November last to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether his programme includes having either new factories, assembly plants or storage buildings specially constructed in which to provide for the fittings, fixtures or materials that the Government are acquiring by bulk purchase in connection with the housing emergency.

Additional production facilities are being provided where necessary. In view of the need to economise in building resources, the construction of new factories will be avoided except in the last resort.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production the rate of production and availability of cooking units for permanent and temporary housing work; how much this production is below the monthly need at this time; and by what date he expects to have production equal to demand.

The rate of production of gas and electric cookers is, at the present time, sufficient to cover the known requirements for new houses, both temporary and permanent. The production rates for December, 1945, were: gas cookers, 15,050; electric cookers, 8,650.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he has any information to give the House on the progress being made for adapting royal ordnance factories for the manufacture of civilian commodities.

I should prefer to await the settlement of the programme in connection with Estimates 1946–47 before making a general statement. But in the meantime good progress is being made in the re-equipment of one factory for the production of pressed steel housing fitments. Other factories are undertaking items of civilian production which involve some re-tooling although in the main they do not require major changes of plant.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what was the value of used tyres recently sent to France and the source of the supply; what was the approximate number of tyres on cars in vehicle dumps, both in Britain and in Europe, especially at Bari in South Italy; and if he will take immediate steps to collect these cars and tyres, particulars of which have been sent to him, and make them available for civilian use.

Rubber and tyres are the responsibility of the Board of Trade. The President informs me that since the end of the European war used tyres worth about £7,500 from scrap rubber dumps in this country have been sent to France. I could not give an accurate estimate of the number of tyres on cars in vehicle dumps in this country, but as I informed the hon. Member on 3rd December last, everything is being done to make these vehicles fit for use and to remove their tyres would not help. I understand that the hon. Member has heard from the War Office regarding vehicle dumps abroad.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production, (1) what is the reason for the recently announced increase in the selling price of steel; and whether the effect that this will have on increased costs throughout industry generally has been taken into account;

(2) whether the recently announced increase in steel prices was based on the performance of the most efficient low cost producers, or on that of the inefficient high cost producers.

The recent increase in the selling prices of steel was made necessary by the termination of the main wartime arrangements for stabilizing prices which had involved subsidies to meet increased costs of production. The new prices are based on a review of costs of a representative sample of each section of the industry, in which special weight was given to the costs of the more efficient firms and to anticipated economies resulting from the return to normal supplies. The effects on consuming industries were fully considered before prices were raised.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what reduction has recently been made in the production of military vehicles.

The production of military vehicles, including tanks, during December, 1945, was a little under 60 per cent. of the output during September of that year.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he is aware of the shortage of spare parts for motor cars which is hampering the work of essential people in industry and the professions; and what action his Department is taking in the matter.

Yes; every effort is being made to encourage both vehicle and component manufacturers to meet the greatly increased demand, and vehicle manufacturers can draw on surplus Service spares to meet their civilian requirements when such a course is practicable.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what steps he proposes to take to abate the nuisance caused by the activities being carried on at the Bell Hanger Test Beds, Bills-borough, Nottingham.

The trooping programme of the Royal Air Force is creating so great a demand for engines that testing capacity is at present fully loaded. Since September last the hours of testing at Bilborough have been limited to the following: Monday to Friday, 8.55 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.; Saturday, 8.55 a.m. to 12 noon; Sunday, nil. Further reduction is at present impossible without delaying the supply of engines for the trooping programme. It is intended, however, to cease the testing of aero-engines at Bilborough as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what steps he proposes to take to assist the motor industry to obtain an adequate number of racing tracks, with a view to ensuring British supremacy in automobile and motor-cycle construction; and whether he will procure the early release of the Donington Park motor-racing track from Government requisitioning.

The motor industry has not approached my Department for assistance in obtaining racing tracks. If, however, they require assistance and will indicate in what way we can help to make facilities available, I shall be pleased to consider their proposals. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to the hon. and gallant Member for Derby (Group-Captain Wilcock) on 13th November last.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production why the provisions of the Control of Containers and Packaging (No. 4) General Order (S.R. & O., 1945, No. 1509), are not applied to goods delivered under Government contracts.

This exception, which has been in the Packaging Orders throughout, is due to the impracticability of covering the special conditions of packaging for service requirements. Wherever possible, however, Government Departments do take the standard trade packs and any variation is strictly scrutinised before it is approved.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he is aware of the shortage of tools for carpenters and joiners, due to the amount of such tools that are being exported, and if he will give early attention to a review of the position as the solution of the housing problem is impaired thereby.

The shortage of these tools is due mainly to insufficient labour in the industry. We are trying hard to improve the supply. It has been impressed on manufacturers that tools for building purposes should for the time being have priority over export.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production whether he has formulated plans for the small but efficient X-ray manufacturing industry in this country to play a greater part in both home and export trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am inviting the X-ray industry to discuss with my Department the measures necessary to assist the industry to play an increasing part in the home and export trade. Preliminary inquiries are going forward into various aspects of the problem in consultation with the other Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production if he will make a statement on the conviction, during the war period, of certain persons employed at Woolwich Arsenal, particulars of which he has in his possession.

Yes, Sir. I regret to inform the House that during the period 1941 to 1944, 77 persons employed at the Woolwich Arsenal were charged at the magistrates court, and convicted, of offences against a Direction which was made under Emergency Powers by the Chief Superintendent of Ordnance Factories in January, 1940, but which had been revoked before the alleged offences occurred.

On the matter being brought to my notice I made as full inquiries as were possible so long after the occurrence. The mistake originated in a failure to notify the revocation of the Direction to the War Department Constabulary, who are responsible for policing the Arsenal. I reported the matter to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department for his consideration. My right hon. Friend informs me that he has advised the court that the proceedings in question should be regarded as null and void, that a suitable entry should be made accordingly in the court's records, and that the fines should be returned to the persons concerned. It has also been decided to make an ex gratia payment to two of the three persons who were sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment. In the case of the third person, the question of an ex gratia payment does not arise, since he was properly convicted at the same time of an offence against the law and sentenced to a concurrent term of imprisonment.

I take this opportunity of expressing to those concerned my very deep regret for the occurrence. I am satisfied that the mistake is one which could not occur in normal times of peace.

asked the Secretary of State for War what has been the cost since 17th August, 1945, of transporting, maintaining and supporting the military forces in Indonesia.

The cost of the military forces stationed in Java and Sumatra since 17th August, 1945, to 31st January, 1946, is very roughly £4,000,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Japanese troops have now been disarmed in Indonesia by forces under British command; and how many have been withdrawn from the islands.

The latest information available is that approximately 180,000 Japanese troops have been disarmed in Indonesia by forces under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, and by Australian military forces. Some 25,000 of these were in Java and Sumatra. Over 4,000 Japanese troops from Sumatra have already been evacuated to concentration areas in the Riouw Archipelago.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that delay is taking place in the transit of soldiers' mail between the United Kingdom and C.M.F. and that letters are taking 11 days or more to do the journey; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the transit of mail is made as speedy as the transit of personnel.

I am aware that during the winter delays have occurred in the transit of mails to soldiers serving in the C.M.F. Everything possible has been and will be done to reduce delays to the minimum, but the chief cause has been the bad flying weather, which is a matter outside my control.

asked the Secretary of State for War why 14362337 Sergeant J. S. Padwick, about whom he has been informed by the hon. and learned Member for Brighton, has not yet been repatriated to this country from S.E.A.C, having regard to the death of his father on 17th December, 1945.

The decision as to whether a soldier should be repatriated to this country on compassionate grounds rests with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the command concerned. In this particular case the command is already aware of the facts of the case and a further cable has been sent calling for a decision as a matter of urgency. As soon as a reply to this cable is received I will write to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the representations made to him by the hon. and learned Member for Brighton with regard to the release of Captain J. W. Murdoch; and when it is anticipated that this officer will be released in order to resume his studies for the purpose of qualifying for the medical profession.

This officer has been retained in this country while the possibility of posting him to the home establishment is being considered. No application for Captain Murdoch's release under Class B has been received from the Ministry of Labour and National Service.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Driver F. C. Stewart, about whom information has been given to his Department, and who was in Release Group 23, has not yet been released.

This soldier has now been released. A period of absence from his unit in 1941 was recorded in Driver Stewart's documents. This absence might have involved the forfeiture of all his former service before April, 1941, and in that case he would have had to remain in the Army some considerable time to complete his six years' service with the Colours as a Regular soldier. Driver Stewart's release was therefore held up until inquiries into this point had been completed. These inquiries involved cabling for information to the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the undertaking given to the farmers and residents in the area of the Leiston battle school, that their homes and holdings would be returned to them at the end of the war, is not to be carried out, in view of the fact that their livelihood and living accommodation are now threatened by the continued occupation by the military authorities.

I have been unable to trace that any specific undertaking was given. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that it is our intention to release the area as soon as it is no longer required on military grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the delay in the delivery of letters and parcels to men in Iraq; and if he will take steps to speed up the transit of mail to and from this area.

So far as I am aware there is no general delay in the delivery of letters and parcels to the Forces in Iraq, although during December some delay was. caused by bad weather and difficult flying conditions. Letters are normally dispatched daily by air to Baghdad. It is not possible to send parcels by air, but they are dispatched regularly by the quickest alternative sea and overland route.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are now the qualifying periods for return to the United Kingdom from overseas commands; the present length of the tour; and what hopes he can hold out for an early reduction in either.

The qualifying periods for return to this country under the Python Scheme are 3 years 4 months for India and S.E.A.C. and 4 years for all other commands. Generally speaking the actual length of tour is at present approximately the same as these qualifying periods. As-regards the last part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Leeds (Mr. Gaitskell) on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War how soon the dumps of ammunition will be removed from Savernake Forest.

Large quantities of ammunition still remain in this country and must be stored until disposed of. The disposal of surplus ammunition is bound to be a slow process, although every endeavour is being made to speed it up so far as is consistent with adequate safety measures. Priority must be given to the removal of ammunition from agricultural land, areas near public roads and more thickly populated areas. Concentrated depots such as that in Savernake Forest which can more easily be controlled and guarded must be retained for longer periods. Much as I regret the anxiety and inconvenience caused to the local population, I can therefore hold out little hope that the ammunition at this depot will be removed for a considerable time.

asked the Secretary of State for War which are the lowest age and service groups in each of the overseas commands, respectively, who are at present eligible for privilege leave to the United Kingdom.

It has been laid down for the main overseas commands that the grant of L.I.A.P. must be confined to men who have a reasonable period to serve in the Command after their return from leave. These are as follows:

B.A.O.R., six weeks.

C.M.F., about four months.

M.E.F., about six months.

India, about one year.

Far East, about one year.

The governing factor in the majority of cases is the approaching end of the Python period and not the proximity of the man's release date; but where the latter is relevant, commands make the best estimate they can of the future of the release programme. Without reference to Overseas Commands I am not in a position to say precisely what release groups they are at present working on for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Indians are now imprisoned or otherwise placed under restraint without trial in Malaya; and if Dr. N. K. Menon, Mr. Raghavan of Penang, Mr. S. C. Goho of Singapore, Mr. Keslev Menon, a barrister of Kuala Lumpur, and Mr. K. K. Benjamin, another barrister, also of Kuala Lumpur, are included in this number.

I have called for a report on this matter and as soon as it is received I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the precise nature of the communication to the Government of India made by U.N.R.R.A., offering its assistance to displaced Indians; what reply was made by the Government of India to such a request, and whether any requests for assistance were made by the Government of India for assistance from U.N.R.R.A.

On 8th November, 1944, the U.N.R.R.A. Administration sent a letter to the Government of India requesting that they should inform the Administration whether they would need U.N.R.R.A. assistance in the fields of health, welfare, displaced persons and supplies. Similar letters were addressed by the U.N.R.R.A. Administration to the Governments of Australia, China, France, the Netherlands, the Philippine Commonwealth and the United Kingdom in regard to Far Eastern territories under the jurisdiction of those Governments. The reply sent by the Government of India to the U.N.R.R.A. Administration contained the following answers relating to displaced persons.

(1) The question of the return of displaced persons of Indian nationality to British territories in the Far East would be a matter for settlement between the Government of India and the Government of the territory concerned. The care and repatriation of such persons would norm ally be the concern of the Government of India, who would operate through their own executive agencies, but the Government of India would be glad to avail themselves where necessary of U.N.R.R.A.'s experience in dealing with this problem. The Government of India would also be glad to co-operate with U.N1R.R.A. as regards the care and re patriation of other displaced persons in India who were nationals of a country on behalf of which U.N.R.R.A. might be operating.

(2) The Government of India would welcome U.N.R.R.A.'s assistance in the care and repatriation of displaced Indians who might be found in enemy territories or elsewhere should such assistance prove necessary. The Government of India pointed out that the remaining enquiries made in the letter received from the U.N.R.R.A. Administration did not appear to concern them since the questions asked presumably related to supplies for the relief and rehabilitation of liberated territories.

No request for U.N.R.R.A. assistance has been made by the Government of India. It will be appreciated that U.N.R.R.A. help is primarily intended to cover the needs of countries which for financial reasons or otherwise are unable to obtain such supplies and help as they need for relief and rehabilitation. This would not generally be applicable to India although circumstances might of course arise in which U.N.R.R.A. personnel, medical supplies, etc. might be called upon in emergency.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what contribution is made by the Government of India to U.N.R.R.A.; and how many Indians are employed in the personnel of the administration in the different parts of the world.

The amount of the financial contribution made by India to U.N.R.R.A. was rupees 8 crores(£6,000,000.) The recruitment of staff by U.N.R.R.A. is carried out by U.N.R.R.A. themselves and I have no precise information regarding the number of Indians so employed, but believe that the total is not yet large. I understand that a number are employed in the Fair East but few if any in Europe. I will try however to obtain precise figures. Conversations which took place in Delhi recently between representatives of the Government of India and of U.N.R.R.A. included discussions on the possibility of more extensive recruitment of Indians in future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many persons are employed in the U.S.A. by the India Office or by the Government of India, for propaganda purposes; and what is the total expense incurred.

Only one person is employed in the U.S.A. on the India Office vote at an average cost of £3,500 per annum. The Government of India employ at their own expense three officers, and a total of 16 locally employed office staff. I am making inquiries as to the total cost and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will consider the advisability of appointing a commission to ascertain the facts as to the prevalence of leprosy in India and to recommend measures for dealing with this menace to the public health of the peoples of India.

This problem was examined as recently as 1941 by a committee appointed by the Central Advisory Board of Health of the Government of India. Their report gives a full statement of the facts about leprosy in India, together with recommendations for measures to control the disease.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will give any statistics as to the prevalence of leprosy in India; and how far there are grounds for thinking that this disease is on the increase.

The figure given in the 1931 Census (the last Census in which such a figure was given) was 150,000, but local surveys suggest that the real total of cases is about one million, of which only about one-quarter are at any one time infectious, some being very slight cases indeed. Existing data give no reliable indication whether the disease is increasing or decreasing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the present leave scheme for the United Kingdom for emergency commissioned officers of the Indian Army under the code names Stiff and Slick are not effective; and what proportion of officers in each battalion concerned are likely to get leave under each scheme, respectively, in the next six months starting 1st January.

I can assure the hon. Member that everything is being done to make these two leave schemes as effective as possible. The number of officers who have availed themselves of leave under the schemes up to 1st January, 1946, is as follows: Stiff, 3,471; Slick, 1,602. I regret that the information asked for in the last part of the Question is not readily available, and could only be obtained by considerable research on the part of the military authorities in India, involving additional duties on staff already heavily occupied, and I should be most reluctant to impose this.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has considered a copy of resolutions passed at the seventy-third working committee of the Provincial Agricultural Labour Federation on 29th December, 1945, at Tanjore; and what steps are being taken to meet the grievances and disabilities of agricultural workers in India, in view of the fact that attention has been called to these matters, in some cases, every year for the last 30 years.

I have not received these resolutions, but inquiries are being made of the Government of India.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that plans are now being made to meet the situation which will arise if Congress rejects the Loan proposals.

Consideration has been given to this among other contingencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the proposals of the White Paper, September, 1945, fail to carry out the assurances given by the last Government that the conditions of service, pay and prospects of Government scientific employees should compare favourably with those on the administrative side of Government work; and whether he will take steps to rectify this position.

No, Sir. On the contrary, as I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnet (Dr. S. Taylor) on 25th October last, at some points in the scale scientists will be paid more than administrators.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many established men and women civil servants served in the forces of the Crown or the nursing services during the war; and how many received promotion during their absence on service.

The number of staff in receipt of, or eligible for, balance of civil pay serving in the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, Nursing Services, etc. reached its highest point in July, 1944, when the total (non-industrial and indus- trial) was 123,387. I regret that no records are available as to the number of those who were promoted by their Departments during their absence on service.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the scarcity of salt in the Southall district during the past two months; and whether he will provide for an early supply to that district.

I am aware that there are still local shortages of salt in various parts of the country. All possible steps are being taken to increase production and to secure equitable distribution, but I am afraid that for some time there will inevitably be local and temporary shortages.

asked the Minister of Food what are to be the authorised retail prices of French wines now that the franc has been devalued; and whether such wine is to be sold through the normal channels.

Authorised retail prices of the French wines for which orders have already been placed are unaffected by the devaluation of the franc. Negotiations will shortly begin, on the results of which the retail prices of Suture imports of French wines will be based. It is intended that all such wines shall be sold through the normal trade channels.

asked the Minister of Food whether the Wheat Agreement of 1942, is still in operation; whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to renew the agreement; and to what extent the agreement is affected by the declaration of His Majesty's Government at the end of Cmd. 6709.

Following the wheat discussions at Washington in 1942, a memorandum of agreement was initialled on behalf of the participating countries. Appended to the memorandum is the draft Wheat Convention which is not in operation. Certain of its provisions are temporarily in force as provided in the memorandum of agreement. That memorandum states that the agreement is to be submitted to a conference of all nations having a substantial interest in international trade in wheat, such conference to be called by the United States after consultation with the other interested countries.

His Majesty's Government recognise that it will be necessary to review the draft convention in the light of the provisions of Chapter 5 of the proposals for consideration by an international conference on trade and employment (Cmd. 6709). His Majesty's Government are prepared to participate in such a review.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will make available additional supplies of wood for the manufacture of fish boxes.