asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that cabbages are being ploughed-in by Kent farmers because it would not pay to have them picked and sent to market; and what action he proposes to take about the matter.

Yes, Sir, I am aware that some winter cabbage, surplus to market requirements, has been ploughed-in by farmers in Kent to make room for other crops. If weather conditions are favourable for production, it is not unusual for cabbage to be in surplus at certain times of the year" and when such surpluses arise they can in normal circumstances only be used for stock feeding or ploughed-in as green manure.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is within his knowledge that a substantial quantity of South American maize has for some time past been destroyed as unsaleable; and whether he will arrange for the importation of maize into this country as an additional poultry food and thus release additional cattle feeding stuffs at home.

I am aware that maize has been used for fuel in South America because of the scarcity of alternative kinds of fuel. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am purchasing and shipping to this country all the maize which I can obtain.

asked the Minister of Food (1) what steps are taken to ensure that London receives a fair share of those food supplies which are more easily accessible in country districts;(2) if he will direct special attention to food supplies in London, bearing in mind the peculiar problems created by its great size and population.

The problem of London's food supplies is naturally one to which my attention is constantly directed, but I am not aware that the supply position is less favourable in London than elsewhere. Rationed foods are automatically adjusted to population trends, and I have no evidence that manufacturers and other distributors are not adjusting their distribution of points rationed and unrationed foods in accordance with changes in the population in the Metropolitan area as quickly as may be.

asked the Minister of Food the comparative allowances of food recently exported from Britain to other countries, in terms of calories, but in British weights and measures, indicating the quantity of each food separately.

Particulars of the quantities of food exported from the U.K. to all destinations in 1945 are now being assembled and will be published by the Board of Trade early in March.

asked the Minister of Food the amount spent annually by his Department on advertising; and whether he will give an assurance that he is satisfied with the results.

With regard to the first part of the Question, the current expenditure on general Press advertising is at the rate of£430,000 a year. The answer to the second part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

asked the Minister of Food what is the reason for the recurring shortage of domestic salt; and what is being done to make supplies more regular.

I am aware that local shortages of domestic salt of a temporary character are still occurring in some places. I have investigated the position thoroughly in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade. The present difficulties are due to shortage of labour, deterioration in the efficiency of machinery due to high pressure working during the war and also to transport difficulties. All possible steps are being taken to increase production and to secure equitable distribution and while a steady improvement is being effected each month, I am afraid it will not be possible entirely to avoid the occurence of loral and temporary shortages for some little time to come.

asked the Minister of Food when the resumption of imports of Australian tinned fruits is likely to take place.

I am in negotiation with the Australian Government for these tinned fruits and am expecting to hear from them as to quantities and prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give favourable consideration to the more frequent deliveries of bread, which would enable housewives more closely to estimate their requirements and save wasting the quantities of stale bread now placed in pigbins and dustbins.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dodds) on 6th February.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there will be 40,000 tons of tomatoes in the Canary Islands available for shipment to this country between now and the end of April; that the importers are willing to ship them at their own risk; and why his Department has not arranged for the necessary permits to be granted.

Sir B. Smith: I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Members for Rushcliffe (Mrs. Paton), Reigate (Mr. Touche), and North St. Pancras (Mr. House) on 13th February.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that a female temporary clerk employed in the Rochford Food Office has been refused permission by his divisional officer to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming district council elections in the Rayleigh Urban District Council area; and will he take steps to give such permission immediately.

Under the present rule, which has been in force for some years, members of the divisional and local food office staff are not permitted to stand as candidates for election to local authorities, and the divisional food officer was accordingly obliged to refuse permission to the officer referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's Question. I have, however, recently had the rule under consideration and after consultation with the staff associations concerned I have now decided that the rule which applies to other parts of the Ministry shall apply also to officers of the divisional and local food offices. The effect is that permission to stand as a candidate will not normally be refused, and permission will be granted at once to the officer referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average produce of food per acre, showing the calorific value of each when used for cattle, sheep or pigs and for each of the main cereals and vegetables.

The average yield per acre in the United Kingdom of the main cereals, pulse and roots during the ten years 1935 to 1944 is given below. The best available indication of the relative productive value of these crops when used as animal feeding stuffs is perhaps starch equivalent, and this is shown for the average yield per acre of each crop:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his Horticultural Department is undertaking any research work on the combating of damage by spring frosts to fruit plantations; what research station is dealing with this matter; and what funds are available.

The Agricultural Research Council, and not my Horticultural Department, is the body responsible for research work into the damage caused to fruit by frost, and I understand that some research work in regard to Great Britain as a whole is being inaugurated at the West of Scotland Agricultural College, under grant from the Agricultural Research Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been directed to the high prices at which farms are changing hands in various parts of the country; and if he has any policy formulated to prevent this form of speculation, which will eventually add unnecessary charges to food production.

I am aware that in many cases farms are now being sold at substantially higher prices than before the war but I do not consider that in the majority of cases these higher prices can be regarded as a form of speculation. My temporary powers under Defence Regulation 62 (4A) to refuse to consent to a notice to quit in cases where the holding has been sold since 3rd September, 1939, are designed to check speculation, but the whole problem is one that is receiving my careful consideration in connection with the permanent land policy legislation which I shall be introducing as soon as Parliamentary time is available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for Allis-Chalmers combine harvesters were received from farmers in Oxfordshire; what number have been allotted to this county in response to such applications; and what is the prospect of their being delivered in time for use next harvest.

Fourteen applications were received by the Oxfordshire War Agricultural Executive Committee and five of these were forwarded to my Department where the final selection is being made. I regret that it will not be possible, however, to allocate any combines of this make to Oxfordshire applicants because of the very small number expected and the relatively larger demand elsewhere. Any applicants finally selected for allocation of a combine will be offered a. suitable alternative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Forestry Commissioners have yet made an order appointing a committee for Wales under Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1945; who are the persons appointed and what functions have been delegated to the committee; or when does he expect that such order will be made.

An order under Section 3 of the Forestry Act, 1945, was made by the Forestry Commissioners on 6th December, 1945, appointing separate Committees for England, Scotland and Wales. Since then the Committees have each held four meetings. The members of the Welsh Committee are:Mr. Lloyd O. Owen, J.P., Chairman.Major Sir Richard Cotterell, Bt.Mr. W. L. Taylor, C.B.E.Colonel J. C. Wynne Finch.Mr. C. Bryner Jones, C.B., C.B.E.Alderman W. H. Vaughan.The functions of these Committees are executive and include such subjects as land acquisition, planting, housing, private forestry and national forest parks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the case of a woman, in Newport, details of which are being sent him, who purchased a pair of shoes for her child, aged 11 years, and paid 17s. for them and which fell to pieces after four days' wear and were returned to the makers; and, in view of the high cost and the number of coupons surrendered, if he will now take steps to improve the quality of children's shoes.

I am having this particular case fully investigated and I will communicate further with my hon. Friend. I cannot, however, agree that, even if this complaint were justified, any generalisation about the quality of children's shoes could legitimately be drawn from it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make protective working boots available to slate quarrymen, without surrender of coupons, in view of the fact that such a concession is granted to coal miners and that the industrial 10 coupons cover clothing only.

No, Sir. I cannot see my way to extend this concession to workers in slate quarries. The Industrial Ten supplement can be used for protective boots and other kinds of footwear, as well as for clothing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what use he is making of the Overseas Trade Development Council; and when this body was last convened or consulted.

The Overseas Trade Development Council last met on 24th October, 1945. In view of the announcement made by the Prime Minister on 17th December on the integration of the Department of Overseas Trade with the Board of Trade, consideration is being given to the future of the Council and its relationship with the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to rectify the shortage of blacksmiths' leather aprons; and whether he will make arrangements with the War Office to get some released for the civilian market.

I am not aware of any serious difficulty in regard to blacksmiths' aprons, but, if the hon. Member will give me details of the cases he has in mind, I shall be glad to make further inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the lighting superintendent of the first district council of the county of Renfrew has no stocks of mantles for street lighting; that unless this position is remedied forthwith the streets will be unlit; and if he will take immediate steps to ensure supplies going to the county of Renfrew.

Yes, Sir. I have already done so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what price rubber is now permitted to be sold by His Majesty's Government for dollars in the world market in Malaya and Ceylon, respectively.

Sir S. Cripps: The f.o.b. prices per pound at which His Majesty's Government are selling standard sheet rubber in Malaya and Ceylon are 20¼ United States cents (approximately 1s.) and 1s. 7¼ respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the shortage of dustbins in West Ham is responsible for serious discontent and inconvenience to housewives; and whether he will direct that further supplies be made available to the local authority forthwith.

I am aware that there is a shortage of dustbins, due to shortage of supplies of sheet steel and blackplate in the necessary gauges. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production on this question. I can only direct further supplies to West Ham at the expense of other areas. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health upon the best division of available supplies and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered an application from the owners for the derequisitioning of the Pontadawe New Sheet Mills, alloys works; and what steps are being taken to make possible the resumption of production in these premises.

The application which was received on 28th January has been considered and arrangements are being made for the premises to be cleared and made available for production as speedily as possible. The War Office and Admiralty occupy 52,962 and 18,804 square feet respectively of the premises, and it is not possible at present to say when the contents consisting of machinery and tank parts, can be removed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of sanitary towels, particularly of the soluble variety, in the Kettering area; and if he will take steps to make them more readily available there.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Harrow (Mr. N. Bower) on 4th February. I have no evidence that supplies are shorter in Kettering than in other parts of the South.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available football jerseys and. other necessary sports clothing to students of the University College of North Wales in view of the fact that many of the students playing in teams representing that college are now returned ex-Servicemen and are reduced to playing in quite unserviceable sports clothing, made from discarded black-out materials.

No, Sir. I regret that supplementary coupons cannot be issued to students for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make available to hairdressers the industrial ten coupons for the purchase of shop coats to use in their trade.

No, Sir. I regret that I could not justify such a concession at present.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he will arrange for the adoption by the canal companies of the recommendations on navigable waterways contained in the Greater London Plan, 1944.

Discussions have taken place with the canal authorities about the development of the frontages of waterways as suggested in the Report. The other suggestions will be considered in connection with long-term canal policy.

asked the Minister of War Transport, whether, in the interest of the large number of persons desiring to rejoin their relatives overseas, it can be made a condition of the return to their owners of the larger liners that these vessels shall not be docked for general reconditioning, as opposed to urgent repairs, before the autumn.

It will not be possible to release from trooping service more than a very few of our larger passenger liners during the next few months. These ships have been specially fitted to carry the maximum numbers of troops in conditions acceptable only to meet war needs, and have seen very hard service. It would be quite impracticable to use them for the transport of large numbers of civilian passengers of both sexes without extensive reconversion and reconditioning. I am aware of the large numbers of persons anxious to secure sea passages, as also are the shipping companies, and the hon. Member may rely on it that everything possible will be done to meet this requirement.

asked the Minister of War Transport whether transport facilities can be made available this summer for tourist travel on the Continent on a limited or unlimited scale.

Services are limited by the military use of British ports and war damage to the Continental ports. The following services are, however, planned to be in operation by the summer:

asked the Minister of War Transport whether all possible precautions were taken to prevent a racket in prices or priorities when his Department released the distribution of new cars to the motor manufacturers and traders.

Before this control was removed, the manufacturers gave an assurance that holders of licences to acquire new cars would be supplied first, and that in further distribution they would have regard to the need of the customer for the use of a car in the national interest.

asked the Minister of War Transport if he is aware of the dangerous form of lighting on the Henley Fair Mile road at night and of a recent fatal accident following the re-lighting of the road; whether he will call for a report by his Department with recommendations on the lighting, particularly during wet weather; and if he will take steps to ensure that the road is safely lit in future.

The responsibility for the lighting of this road rests on the Henley-upon-Thames Borough Council. I propose to discuss with the council the question whether the present system of lighting needs to be altered in the interests of road safety.

asked the Minister of War Transport the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents at night on the Henley Fair Mile in the last ten years respectively, indicating those dates when there was no lighting, wartime screening of street lights and lights as at present, respectively.

I regret that no information is available about accidents on the Henley Fair Mile before 1941. There were three non-fatal accidents on the road at night in 1941; one in 1943; two in 1944, and five in 1945; and one fatal accident during the current year. There have been a number of changes in the lighting of the road, and with the hon. Member's permission I will send him the information for which he has asked

asked the Minister of War Transport whether he has considered the detailed particulars of the unpunctuality of the train service between St. Pancras and Luton, submitted to him by the hon. Member for Luton; and what action he proposes to take to 'impress upon the L.M.S. the need for improved time-keeping.

Yes, Sir; the railway company are fully aware of the unsatisfactory time-keeping on this service. It is. due in the main to shortage of ex- perienced staff, inadequate engine power and inferior coal, and all steps to improve the running of the trains are being taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Newport (Monmouth) Town Council has yet applied for compulsory powers to purchase 174 acres of land at Liswerry, which had been offered to them at£26,900; and whether this land was agricultural land and therefore derated or what was its rateable value.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." As regards the last part, I am informed that the land is agricultural and therefore derated.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Leeds City Council has now confirmed a recommendation of its Improvements Committee for the purchase of an area of land on the Golden Acre estate for a sum of£18,500; what area of land is involved; what is its rateable value; and to what use it is intended to be put.

I am informed that the Corporation has resolved to purchase the Golden Acre Park Estate for the sum indicated; that the area of the land is 146.3 acres and that its rateable value is negligible. It is proposed to use the land for education and recreation ground purposes.

asked the Minister of Health the number of prefabricated and permanent houses planned by the Boldon Urban District Council for the parishes of Cleadon, Boldon Colliery and Whitburn Colliery in the next two years; and the number of applicants in each parish for houses.

No prefabricated temporary houses are to be erected in the villages referred to. The number of permanent houses to be erected during the next two years has still to be discussed with the local authority, but the following sites have already been approved:Boldon Colliery: Sites for 151 houses (including the rebuilding of five war damaged houses)

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what decisions have now been reached in regard to the trial of those former members of the I.N.A. who are accused of gross brutality against their own countrymen.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. B. Taylor) on 3rd December, 1945, in which I set out the policy of the Government of India with regard to the prosecution of Indian Army personnel who joined the Japanese sponsored Indian National Army. So far one person has been tried and convicted by court martial on charges of gross brutality against his own countrymen. So far as can be foreseen at present, approximately 20 other persons are to be brought to trial on similar charges.

asked the Minister of Laobur how many applications for deferment have been received during 1945 from men employed in agriculture in Wales, and how many of these have been refused.

During 1945, the number of applications received for the deferment of farm workers employed in Wales was 1,650; about 1,300 of these were in respect of young men who had recently attained the age of 18 years. Deferment was refused in 230 cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of staff at the Fulbourn Mental Hospital, Cambridgeshire; and what he proposes to do about it.

I am aware of this hospital's need for nursing staff. All possible assistance in obtaining staff is being given by my Department which has submitted particulars of a number of candidates during recent months. The shortage of nursing staff is part of a wider problem affecting mental and other hospitals elsewhere to which the various measures taken by the Government to encourage further recruitment into the nursing services are being directed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the number of cases dealt with by the reinstatement committees has increased following the release of men and women in Class A?

There has been an increase in the number of cases dealt with by reinstatement committees in recent months, but the total is still small. Up to the end of January, 1946, only 725 cases were heard by the committees. In 431 cases the decision was in favour of the applicant. While the monthly figures may be expected to increase, there is as yet no indication that any large number of cases will come before the statutory authorities for settlement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the scrap value of the submarine "Universal," recently in difficulties off the Welsh coast; and how this sum compares with the total expenditure on rescue work while the vessel was in this plight.

It is not possible to estimate the scrap value of the submarine "Universal ", I regret, therefore, that I cannot say how this compares with the cost of salvage, which was approximately£150.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that CJX 258919 G. Rankin of 1, Walter Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 4, who joined the R.N. on 17th February, 1941, and was released on 27th November, 1945, has not yet received his gratuity in spite of various applications to Chatham R.N.B.; that this delay is causing considerable hardship; and whether he will expedite payment of gratuity in this case.

A Post Office Savings Bank book credited with the amount due was despatched to Mr. Rankin on Friday last. I regret the delay in making payment, but Mr. Rankin had previous Army service and it was necessary to obtain details of this to enable the total amount of gratuity to be calculated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the interest of agricultural production, he will give a high priority to the clearance of ammunition from agricultural land at Corfe Castle, Studland and Arne; and when he expects that this area will be cleared of ammunition and fully derequisitioned.

Yes, Sir. The highest priority is being given to the clearance of this area. I hope the main roads will be cleared by the end of February and the better class land early in March, but I cannot promise that the entire area will be completely cleared before the late Autumn.

asked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production, in view of the urgent necessity for farm produce and the fact that unless the land can be cultivated in the near future it will be sterilised for another year, if he will take immediate steps to dispose of the ammunition dumped on 212 acres of good farm land at Sigwills, Charlton Horethorne, Somerset, so as to make the land available for the keep of 60 additional cows.

These explosives belong to the Air Ministry who will move most of them to permanent depots as soon as there is space available in them. The remainder is, I understand, to be destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if aliens or Stateless persons resident in Hong Kong before the war, who joined the volunteer corps in 1939. were mobilised in 1941 and subsequently taken prisoner and repatriated here, will count the period of service with the volunteer forces in their qualifying period for British nationality.

Yes, Sir. Those of them who are returning to Hong Kong would make application for naturalisation there. Those who wish to apply for naturalisation in this country would not, however, be eligible if they have left the service of the Crown to submit an application until they have been resident in the United Kingdom for 12 months

asked the Secretary of State for Foreing Affairs what emoluments will be paid to the British Mission of Observers, which has been sent to Greece to scrutinize the forthcoming elections; whether their dependants are covered in the event of death through misadventure; and if the cost will be recovered from the Greek Government

The members of the British Mission of Observers, with the exception of the technical experts and the clerical staff, are serving without remuneration. They are, however, being granted a subsistence allowance of£ a day to cover their out-of-pocket expenses. The cost of the British Mission is being borne by His Majesty's Government, but the Greek Government are supplying office space and housing facilities, and other miscellaneous items. As regards the risk of injury, I am informed that an ex-gratia payment would be made based on the amount which would be paid in the case of a civil servant injured in similar circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether there have been, since 15th January last, further exports to Germany of the following commodities which, from 1st September, 1945, were: flour, 12,000 tons; barley, 11,400 tons; potatoes, 40,000 tons; biscuits, 15,000 tons and wheat, 280,000 tons.

The following additional quantities were exported in the period 15th January to 9th February:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether large landowners within the British zone in Germany who were active Nazis are allowed to retain their land or whether some provision exists for the confiscation of such land.

As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Tiffany) on 12th February, the elimination of Nazi and military influences is being pursued in agriculture as in other industries. Active Nazis, whether landowners or not, are liable to arrest and imprisonment and dispossession of their property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the Malayan Government will be able to collect sufficient funds to pay adequate compensation for loss of property due to enemy action in Malaya; whether, in view of the partial responsibility of the British Government for the protection of Malaya, some contribution can be made from Great Britain; and whether some contribution can be made to provide immediate funds to meet urgent cases of hardship as with similar claims in connection with war damage in this country.

It is proposed that Claims Commissions should be set up as soon as possible for each of the Far Eastern Colonial Territories to register and assess claims for property lost or damaged as the result of the war. A full statement on the subject is given below. Pending the results of the Commissions' investigations it is not possible to say to what extent local funds will be sufficient to meet accepted claims, and the question whether any contribution can be made by His Majesty's Government will have to be considered in the light of claims not only from the Far Eastern Colonial territories, but also from other parts of the Empire in similar circumstances.In reply to the last part of the Question, while no payment can be made against claims pending the outcome of the above investigations, I would refer to my reply to a Question on 31st October, 1945, by the hon. and gallant Member for Lonsdale (Sir I. Fraser) in which I mentioned certain forms of assistance for which British subjects coming to this country after release from captivity in Hong Kong were eligible in suitable cases. Those coming from Malaya are eligible for similar assistance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Burma whether he is now in a position to make a statement about compensation for war damage in Burma.

Yes, Sir. The Government propose that a Claims Commission shall be set up in each of the British territories in the Far East, including Burma, which have been occupied by the Japanese, to register and assess claims for property lost or damaged as a result of the war. The text of their announcement on this subject is given above.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recognition by this country of the new Government in Austria, there is any prospect in the near future of appointing a diplomatic representative and consuls to that country.

His Majesty's Government have a political representative in Vienna who has the personal rank of minister but does not have full diplomatic status. An Austrian Government representative has recently arrived here in a similar capacity. British consular interests are looked after by the British Interests Branch of the British Element of the Allied Commission. It is His Majesty's Government's intention to resume full diplomatic relations with the Austrian Government at the appropriate time. The question will be among those to be discussed with the other three Controlling Powers in Vienna in the course of negotiations for the establishment of a new Control Agreement which it is hoped will shortly take place.

asked the Minister of Works whether he has considered the position of men still engaged in his Department, of whom details have been sent to him, who are paid for doing practically nothing and who are prevented from taking up their civil occupations; and what action he proposes to take.

If the hon. Member will supply details, I shall be pleased to look into the matter

asked the Minister of Works if he will install amplifiers in the House so that hon. Members in all parts of the Chamber can hear hon. Members who are now inaudible save in their immediate vicinity.

I am unable to add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Austin), on October 18th, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Works whether the re-fencing of certain parts of Regents Park is to be regarded as an indication of policy with regard to open spaces generally, or what are the reasons for it.

Removal of the railings has resulted in Marylebone Green in Regents Park becoming disfigured by worn tracks. Hedges, protected tem-porarily by low fences, are being planted along the Northern and Southern boundaries of the area in order to encourage the public to make use of the recognised foot paths for through traffic. It is not otherwise the intention to restrict the use of the area.